QTL analysis of cold tolerance at seedling stage in rice (Oryza sativa L.) using recombination inbred lines

Cold tolerance at seedling stage of rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a favorable trait for the stable establishment in temperate and high-elevation areas. In the present study, 71 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from the cross of Asominori (Japonica) and IR24 (Indica) were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting cold tolerance at seedling stage. The putative QTL was further confirmed using some chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs), in which IR24 was used as the donor parent and Asominori as the recurrent parent. The average seedling mortality was used as cold tolerance after cold treatment with 6 °C for 7 days and recovery culture with 25 °C for 4 days at three-leaf seedling stage. Three QTL affecting cold tolerance at seedling stage were detected on chromosomes 1, 5 and 6 with LOD scores ranging from 2.2 to 4.1 using composite interval mapping (CIM). Among them, qSCT-1 located in the region of XNpb87-2-C955 on chromosome 1 was a major QTL which explained 24.51% of total phenotypic variance and favorable allele came from japonica parent, Asominori. In addition, IR24 alleles at the other two loci (qSCT-5 and qSCT-6) increased cold tolerance. And these three QTL were confirmed by four lines from the IR24 CSSLs. Transferring favorable allele from japonica variety to indica background or pyramiding different QTL identified from indica is an effective way to improve cold tolerance of rice.