Identification and characteristics of quantitative trait locus for grain protein content, <Emphasis Type="Italic">TGP12</Emphasis>, in rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

Grain protein content is an important analysis target to determine grain quality in rice. This study analyzed quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for the content of grain protein and amylose using the chromosomal segment substitution lines developed from ‘Koshihikari’ and ‘Nona Bokra’. It also evaluated the effects of target QTL on eating and cooking quality through the physical properties of cooked rice and its gel consistency. QTL analysis over 3 years detected the QTL on chromosome 12, TGP12, which consistently decreased total grain protein content via the ‘Nona Bokra’ allele. Selected CSSL with TGP12, CSSL-TGP12, showed a lower content of total grain protein in brown and milled rice, and had similar amylose content, grain size, and weight of brown rice, compared with ‘Koshihikari’. Based on the results of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, brown rice with CSSL-TGP12 had no remarkable decrease or loss in any specific protein. Regarding eating and cooking quality, CSSL-TGP12 did not show stable effects on physical properties, hardness, stickiness, or adherability of cooked rice or its gel consistency. These results suggest that TGP12 could be one of the key genetic factors for the alteration of grain protein content without an effect on eating or cooking quality.     

Construction of chromosomal segment substitution lines and genetic dissection of introgressed segments associated with yield determination in the parents of a super‐hybrid rice

Heterosis is a phenomenon whereby hybrids of inbred lines produce favourable phenotypes that exceed those of their parents. Traits of interest are higher yield and stronger stress tolerance. The two‐line super‐hybrid rice ‘Liangyoupei9’ (LYP9) shows superiority to both its elite inbred line ‘93‐11’ and ‘Pei'ai64s’ (‘PA64s’) parents and conventional hybrids. However, the genetic basis of its hybrid vigour, especially yield determination, remains elusive. In the present study, a set of 156 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) carrying overlapping segments from ‘PA64s’ in a genetic background of ‘93‐11’ were constructed and planted in six environments. Three major agronomic traits, viz. panicle length (PL), heading date (HD) and plant height (PH), and five yield‐related traits, viz. grain weight per panicle (GWP), number of grains per panicle (GPP), 1000‐grain weight (TGW), seed set (SS) and number of panicles of per plant (PPP), were evaluated over 3 years. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis was conducted using a likelihood ratio test based on stepwise regression. Forty‐six putative QTL distributed on 11 chromosomes were detected in more than one year. Remarkably, GWP of four CSSLs carrying positive yield QTL outperformed the recurrent parent ‘93‐11’ by more than 15%, in at least two environments. These results indicate that CSSLs are effective in identifying yield‐associated traits, and lines harbouring such QTL will be rich in resources for future molecular breeding programmes.     

Evaluation of a barley (Hordeum vulgare) chromosome 2 drought tolerance quantitative trait locus in genomic backgrounds of two cultivars

A barley drought tolerance Quantitatif Trait Locus (QTL) on chromosome 2 was transferred from tolerant cultivar ‘Tadmor’ to susceptible ‘Baronesse’ and ‘Aydanhanım’. Effects of this QTL on drought tolerance and other traits were studied using near-isogenic lines under controlled environments and field trials for two years. This QTL resulted in 5.0% and 9.1% improvement in leaf relative water content of ‘Baronesse’ and ‘Aydanhanım’ cultivars, respectively, under controlled environments. The QTL accelerated heading and maturity by 2.5 days in ‘Baronesse’ and by 5–6 days in ‘Aydanhanım’. It was associated with shorter stature and more ears. This QTL region increased grain yields by 1.1 and 0.6 t/ha in ‘Baronesse’ and ‘Aydanhanım’, respectively, mainly by increasing the number of tillers. There were previous reports related to yield promoting effects of this region harbouring flowering locus eps2 (barley HvCEN gene). However, sequencing of 1025 bp fragment encompassing HvCEN coding region revealed that our parents and near-isogenic lines had no Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) variation, ruling out direct involvement of eps2. These findings pointed to the possible effect of another flowering locus in the QTL region.     

水稻剑叶角度与主穗产量的遗传剖析

理想水稻株型的选育与高产育种密切相关,而剑叶角度则是构成水稻理想株型的重要指标之一,同时也是影响水稻产量的重要因素。合理开发利用水稻中控制剑叶角度及产量相关的数量性状基因座位（QTL）,并结合分子育种技术,可更好地为高产制繁种目标服务。通过应用由244个株系组成的珍汕97B/密阳46重组自交系（RIL）群体,构建含256个分子标记的连锁图谱,采用QTL区间作图法对剑叶角度及主穗产量等5个性状进行定位分析,共检测到17个QTL,分布于染色体1、2、3、5、6、9、10、11。这些QTL对相应性状的贡献率介于3.46%~25.64%之间。在第1染色体上检测到控制5个性状的QTL,其中控制剑叶角度的两个QTL;在第2、3、9、10、11染色体上分别检测到各一个QTL;第5染色体上检测到控制剑叶、每穗总粒数和每穗实粒数的3个QTL;1个每穗实粒数和2个每穗实粒重的QTL分布于第6染色体上。多个区间表现出对两个性状的显著作用,其中第1染色体2个,第6染色体1个。相关性分析表明,较小的剑叶角度可通过提高结实率进而显著增加产量。     

Genomic regions associated with milling quality and grain shape identified in a set of random introgression lines of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice milling quality is the final part of grain yield making it fit for eating and a complex trait that remains poorly understood genetically. Three components of rice milling quality, i.e. brown rice rate, milled rice rate and head rice rate and related rice grain shape traits were genetically dissected by the QTL mapping approach using a set of 231 random rice introgression lines and 160 SSR markers. A total of 10 genomic regions were found to be associated with rice grain shape and milling quality traits. Of these, one major QTL on chromosome 7 had large effects on rice grain shape and milling quality and was detected consistently in several related populations of rice, which offers an opportunity for marker‐aided improvement of rice milling quality and QTL cloning.     

QTLs for barley yield adaptation to Mediterranean environments in the ‘Nure’ × ‘Tremois’ biparental population

Multi-environment trials represent a highly valuable tool for the identification of the genetic bases of crop yield potential and stress adaptation. A Diversity Array Technology^®-based barley map has been developed in the ‘Nure’ × ‘Tremois’ biparental Doubled Haploid population, harbouring the genomic position of a gene set with a putative role in the regulation of flowering time and abiotic stress response in barley. The population has been evaluated in eighteen location-by-year combinations across the Mediterranean basin. QTL mapping identified several genomic regions responsible for barley adaptation to Mediterranean conditions in terms of phenology, grain yield and yield component traits. The most frequently detected yield QTL had the early flowering HvCEN_EPS2 locus (chromosome 2H) as peak marker, showing a positive effect from the early winter parent ‘Nure’ in eight field trials, and explaining up to 45.8 % of the observed variance for grain yield. The HvBM5A_VRN-H1 locus on chromosome 5H and the genomic region possibly corresponding to PPD-H2 on chromosome 1H were significantly associated to grain yield in five and three locations, respectively. Environment-specific QTLs for grain yield, and clusters of yield component QTLs not related to phenology and or developmental genes (e.g. on chromosome 4H, BIN_09) were observed as well. The results of this work provide a valuable source of knowledge and tools for both explaining the genetic bases of barley yield adaptation across the Mediterranean basin, and using QTL-associated markers for MAS pre-breeding and breeding programmes.     

Trait identification and QTL validation for reproductive stage drought resistance in rice using selective genotyping of near flowering RILs

Drought resistance is becoming an indispensable character for rice improvement due to the dwindling global water resources. Genetic improvement for drought resistance is achieved through physiological dissection and genetic analysis of independent component traits associated with crop productivity under stress. A subset mapping population of 93 near flowering recombinant inbred lines with uniform phenology was constituted for genetic analysis of reproductive stage drought resistance. The population was phenotyped for 22 physio-morphological traits under two contrasting water regimes imposed at reproductive stage. Broad sense heritabilities of morphological traits were lower under stress than irrigated. Predominant association of plant height, panicle exsertion and harvest index with grain yield were observed under stress. The sustenance of panicle exsertion through maintaining growth during moisture stress was found as a significant trait associated with the grain yield through minimizing spikelet sterility. Selective genotyping was carried out with 23 polymorphic microsatellite markers of the established target genomic regions for drought resistance. The study validated the association of a QTL region on the long arm of chromosome 1 with plant height, panicle length, panicle exsertion, biological yield and stomatal conductance under stress. This region, flanked by markers RM246 and RM315, was known to possess the semi-dwarf gene, sd-1. Role of another major interval lying between RM256 and RM149 on chromosome 8 in defining the drought resistance could be established through identification of QTLs associated with leaf rolling, panicle exsertion, plant height, panicle length, senescence and biological yield under moisture stress condition. Few other QTLs were also identified.     

Identification and confirmation of quantitative trait loci for stachyose content in soybean seed

Stachyose is an unfavorable sugar in soybean meal that causes flatulence for non‐ruminant animals. Understanding the genetic control of stachyose in soybean will facilitate the modification of stachyose content at the molecular level. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with seed stachyose content using simple sequence repeat (SSR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A normal stachyose cultivar, ‘Osage’, was crossed with a low stachyose line, V99‐5089, to develop a QTL mapping population. Two parents were screened with 33 SSR and 37 SNP markers randomly distributed on chromosome 10, and 20 SSR and 19 SNP markers surrounding a previously reported stachyose QTL region on chromosome 11. Of these, 5 SSR and 16 SNP markers were used to screen the F_3:4 lines derived from ‘Osage’ x V99‐5089. Seed samples from F_3:5 and F_3:6 lines were analyzed for stachyose content using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Composite interval mapping analysis indicated that two stachyose QTL were mapped to chromosome 10 and 11, explaining 11% and 79% of phenotypic variation for stachyose content, respectively. The SSR/SNP markers linked to stachyose QTL could be used in breeding soybean lines with desired stachyose contents. Chi‐square tests further indicated that these two QTL probably represent two independent genes for stachyose content. Therefore, a major QTL was confirmed on chromosome 11 and a novel QTL was found on chromosome 10 for stachyose content.     

Chlorophyll Dynamics in Rice (Oryza sativa) Before and After Flowering Based on SPAD (Chlorophyll) Meter Monitoring and its Relation with Grain Yield

The rice plant at any point in time is composed of leaves of physiologically different ages, so it follows that the leaves differ in their contributions to the growth of the whole plant and its grain yield. As the leaf chlorophyll content (Soil Plant Analytical Division value) is the best indicator of photosynthetic activity in rice, the chlorophyll content of rice before and after flowering was determined in a weed management field experiment on direct wet seeded rice. The results indicated that the leaf chlorophyll content at 79 days after sowing correlated well with the grain yield of rice. Multiple regression models also indicated the dependence of rice yield on leaf chlorophyll content before and after flowering.     

QTL mapping and associated marker selection for the efficacy of green plant regeneration in anther culture of rice

Anther culturability of rice is a quantitative trait controlled by nuclear‐encoded genes. The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and associated marker selection for anther culturability is important for increasing the efficiency of green plant regeneration from microspores. QTL associated with the capacity for green plant regeneration in anther culture of rice were mapped on chromosomes 3 and 10 using 164 recombinant inbred (RI) lines from a cross between ‘Milyang 23’ and ‘Gihobyeo’. The quantitative trait locus located on chromosome 10 was detected repeatedly when three anther culture methods were applied and was tightly linked to the markers, RG323, RG241 and RZ400. Associations between these markers and the efficacy of green plant regeneration in 43 rice cultivars and two F₂ populations, ‘MG RI036’/‘Milyang 23’, and ‘MG RI036’;/‘IR 36’ were analysed. One of these markers, RZ400, was able to identify effectively genotypes with good (> 10.0%) and poor (< 3.0%) regenerability, based on the marker genotypes in the cultivars and two F₂ populations. This marker enables the screening of rice germplasm for anther culturability and introgression into elite lines in breeding programmes.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci for resistance to bending-type lodging in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Bending-type lodging is one of the most important factors affecting the yield and grain quality of rice. This study identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for physical strength of the upper culms, and evaluated QTL effects on lodging resistance. In 2010 and 2011, QTLs for breaking strength, length, and diameter of the top three internodes were identified by analyzing chromosomal segment substitution lines (CSSLs) developed from ‘Koshihikari’ and ‘Kasalath’. The QTL analysis indicated that ‘Kasalath’ had two types of QTLs: one to strengthen specific internodes and one to simultaneously improve the physical strengths of plural internodes or the top three internodes. A QTL for breaking strengths of the top three internodes (bsuc11) was detected on chromosome 11 in both years. This QTL did not overlap with that for internode length. To evaluate the effects of bsuc11 on lodging resistance, this study selected three CSSLs with bsuc11 and analyzed the breaking strengths of the top three internodes after heading and the pushing resistance of the lower part. Internodes of ‘Koshihikari’ showed decreased breaking strengths after grain filling, while those of CSSLs with bsuc11 did not show this decrease in breaking strength. The pushing resistance of the lower part at the fully ripe stage was the same in ‘Koshihikari’ and CSSLs with bsuc11. These results suggested that bsuc11 could be a target to improve the physical strength of the upper culms to resist bending-type lodging, and that the physical strengths of upper and lower parts are controlled by different genetic factors in rice.     

不同穗型水稻剑叶光合特性及叶绿素荧光参数的研究

环境对光合作用影响可以通过叶绿素荧光的变化反应出来,农艺措施中以种植密度和施N量的变化对光合作用的影响尤为明显。本研究以不同穗型水稻品种（穗重型品种‘龙粳27’和穗数型品种‘龙粳25’）为材料,设4个密度处理和4个施肥时期处理,研究密度和氮肥运筹对不同穗型水稻光合指标及叶绿素荧光参数的影响。结果表明,穗重型水稻‘龙粳27’的叶绿素含量、光合速率、光合功能期均显著高于穗数型品种‘龙粳25’。适当稀植和氮肥后移对水稻剑叶的光合特性有明显的促进作用,穗重型品种‘龙粳27’在D2 (29.7 cm×13.2 cm)密度处理下,穗数型品种‘龙粳25’在D3 (33 cm×9.9 cm)密度处理下,N肥后移会显著提高二者产量。     

Identification and mapping of a QTL for rachis internode length associated with cleistogamy in barley

General knowledge of the closed flowering trait, or cleistogamy, of barley is still limited. The relationship between cleistogamy and spike morphology characters was studied and linkage of cleistogamy genes with a highly significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) for rachis internode length on the long arm of chromosome 2H was detected. The mapping populations consisted of 129 doubled haploid lines of ‘Mikamo Golden’ × ‘Harrington’ and 150 F₂ plants of ‘Misato Golden’ × ‘Satsuki Nijo’. The phenotypic variance explained by this QTL accounted for 77.5% and 82.6% of the variance in rachis internode lengt, respectively, in these two populations. The peaks of the QTL coincided with the positions of the cleistogamy gene loci.     

Detection of an earliness per se quantitative trait locus in the proximal region of wheat chromosome 5AL

A homoeologous quantitative trait locus to that of eps5L on barley chromosome 5H was identified in a syntenic region of wheat chromosome 5A. Wheat single chromosome recombinant lines (SCRs) were developed from a cross between ‘Chinese Spring’(‘Cappelle-Desprez’ 5A) and ‘Chinese Spring’(Triticum spelta 5A), these were grown together with the parental controls under different vernalization and photoperiod regimes. The variation for ear emergence time accelerated heading induced by the T. spelta segment indicated an effect associated with the Xcdo412-Xbcd9 interval. Since no differences between the SCRs and controls in responses to vernalization and photoperiod treatments were detected, this effect was identified as an earliness per se gene, Q Eetocs-5 A.2, which may be homoeologous to the eps5L quantitative trait locus of barley. Xbcd926 has been found to be closely linked to the rice flowering time quantitative trait loci, QHd9a or FLTQ2, on chromosome 9, suggesting possible relationships among the quantitative trait loci across wheat, barley and rice genomes.     

Quantitative trait loci associated with seed set under high temperature stress at the flowering stage in rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

High temperature stress (HTS), an increasingly important problem in rice production, significantly reduces rice yield by reducing seed set percentage (SSP). Breeding rice varieties with tolerance to HTS at the flowering stage is therefore essential for maintaining rice production as the climate continues to warm. In this study, two quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying tolerance to HTS were identified using the recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between the HTS-tolerant rice cultivar 996 and the sensitive cultivar 4628. SSP was used as the heat-tolerance indicator for the lines, which were subjected to HTS at the flowering stage in both field and growth chamber experiments. Two major QTL that affected SSP in both conditions were detected in the interval between RM5687 and RM471 on chromosome 4, and between RM6132 and RM6100 on chromosome 10. The QTL located on chromosome 4 explained 21.3% in field and 25.8% in growth chamber of the total phenotypic variation in SSP, and increased the SSP of plants subjected to HTS by 9.1% in field and by 9.3% in growth chamber. The second QTL located on chromosome 10 explained 11.5% in field and 11.6% in growth chamber of the total phenotypic variation in SSP, and increased the SSP of plants subjected to HTS by 7.2% in field and 7.0% in growth chamber. The positive additive effects of the two QTL were derived from the 996 alleles. The two major QTL identified in this study could be useful for further fine mapping and cloning of these genes and for molecular marker-aided breeding of heat-tolerant rice cultivars.     

Mapping of QTL controlling NIR predicted hot water extract and grain nitrogen content in a spring barley cross using marker-regression

A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) map constructed from 99 doubled haploid lines of a cross between two spring barley varieties (‘;Blenheim’בKym’) was used to map QTL controlling hot water extract and grain nitrogen content (predicted by analysis with near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy). Eight QTL affecting predicted hot water extract were identified by a marker-regression approach. The largest effects were found on chromosomes 3HL, associated with the denso dwarfing gene which is present in‘Blenheim’and conferred poorer predicted hot water extract quality, and 4HL. Other QTL were detected on chromosomes IHS. IHL. 2HS, 2HL. 5HL and 6HS. Analysis of single markers by analysis of variance detected an additional effect on chromosome 1H. Eight QTL affecting predicted grain nitrogen content were identified by marker-regression, on chromosomes 1HS, 1HL. 2HL. 5HS, 6H, 7HS and 7HL. There was also evidence for an additional QTL on chromosome 5HL. The positions of the grain nitrogen content QTL on 5HS and 5HL are comparable to QTL on wheat chromosomes 5A and 5D that affect grain protein content. The denso gene had no detectable effect on grain nitrogen content.     

Mapping QTL for stay-green and agronomic traits in wheat under diverse water regimes

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield is directly proportional to physio-morphological traits. A high-density genetic map consisting of 2575 markers was used for mapping QTL controlling stay-green and agronomic traits in wheat grown under four diverse water regimes. A total of 108 additive QTL were identified in target traits. Among them, 28 QTL for chlorophyll content (CC) were detected on 11 chromosomes, 43 for normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) on all chromosomes except 5B, 5D, and 7D, five for spikes per plant (NSP) on different chromosomes, nine for plant height (PH) on four chromosomes, and 23 for thousand-kernel weight (TKW) on 11 chromosomes. Considering all traits, the phenotypic variation explained (PVE) ranged from 3.61 to 41.62%. A major QTL, QNDVI.cgb-5A.7, for NDVI with a maximum PVE of 20.21%, was located on chromosome 5A. A stable and major PH QTL was observed on chromosome 4D with a PVE close to 40%. Most distances between QTL and corresponding flanking markers were less than 1 cM, and approximately one-third of the QTL coincided with markers. Each of 16 QTL clusters on 10 chromosomes controlled more than one trait and therefore could be regarded as pleiotropic regions in response to different water regimes. Forty-one epistatic QTL were identified for all traits having PVE of 6.00 to 25.07%. Validated QTL closely linked to flanking markers will be beneficial for marker-assisted selection in improving drought-tolerance in wheat.     

节水灌溉与常规灌溉对旱直播水稻叶片生理特性、产量及品质的影响

为研究不同灌溉方式对直播稻产量和品质的影响。以3个水稻品种为试验材料,在大田旱直播栽培模式下,设置常规灌溉和节水灌溉2种灌溉方式,分析测定直播稻的叶片光合、稻谷产量和品质等指标。结果表明,相对于常规灌溉,节水灌溉处理剑叶叶绿素含量和叶片含水率分别下降3.66%和4.37%,灌浆中后期剑叶光合速率和水稻产量分别提高5.78%和5.69%。对稻米品质的影响因不同品种表现不同,对于‘新稻567’和‘新稻568’两品种,节水灌溉处理稻米加工和食味品质分别下降了6.21%和3.84%,垩白粒率和垩白度分别增加了18.9%和5.37%;对于‘新科稻31’,节水灌溉处理稻米的加工品质提高了3.4%,垩白粒率和垩白度分别下降了19.59%和27.84%。相关分析表明,叶片含水率与光合速率呈正相关,产量和品质与光合速率的关系因不同灌浆时段而异。提高灌浆中后期光合速率,可以提高水稻产量和稻米的加工品质,但稻米外观和食味品质有所下降。综上表明,通过节水灌溉可以提高水稻产量,但在米质调控上因品种而异。因种设定不同的土壤水势灌溉标准,对发展节水型直播稻生产和提高稻田水分利用效率具有重要意义。     

Identification of a novel QTL for the number of spikelets per panicle using a cross between indica‐ and japonica‐type high‐yielding rice cultivars in Japan

Yield is a complex trait. To improve it, the accumulation of the favourable alleles of valuable genes is required for each yield‐related trait. In this study, we used two high‐yielding rice cultivars developed in Japan, indica‐type ‘Takanari’ and japonica‐type ‘Momiroman’, for a genetic analysis of the sink capacity‐related traits. An F₂ population showed transgressive segregation for the number of spikelets per panicle. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis detected four QTLs for the trait. Two of the QTLs were most likely identical to previously cloned GN1a and APO1, and their Takanari alleles had positive effects. The Momiroman alleles of the other two QTLs had positive effects, and one of these QTLs was most likely identical to SPIKE/GPS. The QTL on the long arm of chromosome 3 appeared to be novel; it clustered with QTLs for grain length and days‐to‐heading. Substitution mapping revealed that the close linkage of QTLs caused the clustering. These results suggest that the combination of the favourable alleles of detected QTLs could lead to greater sink capacity than that of the parental cultivars.     

施氮量对超级双季早稻产量及氮肥吸收利用的影响

为探讨施氮量对超级双季早稻产量及氮肥吸收利用的影响,以超级杂交早稻‘新丰优22’和‘金优458’为材料,设置6个施氮水平,研究不同施氮量对超级双季早稻产量和氮肥吸收利用的影响。结果表明：施氮处理水稻产量显著高于不施氮处理,‘新丰优22’最高的N4比N0提高了120.86%,‘金优458’N4比N0提高了145.34%,在0~195 kg/hm2范围内,籽粒产量随施氮量的增加而增加,当氮肥施用量达到195 kg/hm2时产量最高,而后有所下降;在低氮水平下,增加氮肥施用量有利于提高单位面积水稻有效穗数、稻谷和稻草的氮吸收量;成熟期籽粒含氮量随施氮量的增加有明显增加的趋势;氮肥农学效率和氮肥偏生产力均随施氮量的增加而降低,‘金优458’氮肥农学效率是N1>N2>N3>N4>N5,‘新丰优22’为N1>N4>N2>N3>N5。