QTL mapping of general combining abilities of four traits in maize using a high-density genetic map

• Published in: Journal of Integrative Agriculture 2017-08, Vol.16 (8), p.1700-1707
• Main Authors: WANG, Hai, HE, Yan, WANG, Shou-cai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: general combining ability; high-density genetic map; maize; QTL mapping; QTL定位; 一般配合力; 分子标记辅助选择; 性状; 杂种优势利用; 玉米育种; 遗传图谱; 高密度
• ISSN: 2095-3119; 2352-3425
• DOI: 10.1016/s2095-3119(17)61677-0

General combining abilities （GCAs） are very important in utilization of heterosis in maize breeding. However, its genetic basis is unclear. In the present study, a set of 118 doubled haploid （DH） lines were induced from F1 generations produced from the cross between the inbred line Zheng 58 and the inbred line W499 belonging to the Reid subgroup. Using the MaizeSNP50 BeadChip, a high-density genetic map was constructed based on the DH population which included 1 147 bin markers with an average interval length of 2.00 cM. Meanwhile, the DH population was crossed with three testers including W16-5, HD568, and W556, which belong to the Sipingtou subgroup. The GCAs of the ear height （EH）, the kernel moisture content （KMC）, the kernel ratio （KR）, and the yield per plant （YPP） were estimated using these hybrids in three environments. Combining the high-density genetic map and the GCAs, a total of 14 QTLs were detected for the GCAs of the four traits. Especially, one pleiotropic QTL was identified on chromosome 1 between the SNP SYN16067 and the SNP PZE-101169244 which was simultaneously associated with the GCAs of the EH, the KR, and the YPP. These QTLs pave the way for further dissecting the genetic architecture underlying GCAs of the traits, and they may be used to enhance GCAs of inbred lines under the fixed heterotic pattern ReidxSipingtou in China through a marker-assisted selection approach.