Identification of QTL controlling flooding tolerance in reducing soil conditions in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings

• Published in: Plant production science 2006, Vol.9 (2), p.176-181
• Main Authors: Mano, Y.(National Inst. of Livestock and Grassland Science, Nasushiobara, Tochigi (Japan). Nasu Research Station), Muraki, M, Takamizo, T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; ALMIDON; AMIDON; Biological and medical sciences; Corn; Dry matter; FLOODING; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene mapping; General agronomy. Plant production; INONDATION; INUNDACION; Leaves; LOCI DE RASGOS CUANTITATIVOS; LOCUS DES CARACTERES QUANTITATIFS; QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI; Quantitative trait locus; Redox potential; REDUCCION; REDUCTION; Seedlings; STARCH; ZEA MAYS
• ISSN: 1343-943X; 1349-1008
• DOI: 10.1626/pps.9.176

We investigated the tolerance to flooding in reducing conditions of five maize inbred lines and identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for the trait. Flooding treatment with 0.1% to 0.4% starch solution for 14 d reduced soil redox potential to about - 200 mV, mimicking reducing conditions in soil. Treatment with 0.2% starch revealed wide varietal differences in dry matter production among the five maize inbred lines. We identified the QTL for flooding tolerance in reducing conditions in a population of 178 F 2 plants derived from a cross of inbred lines F1649 (tolerant) and H84 (sensitive). Flooding tolerance, evaluated as the degree of leaf injury following treatment with 0.2% starch solution, revealed wide variation in the F 2 population. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers linked to flooding tolerance gene(s) were screened with 64 AFLP primer combinations using 15 of the 178 F 2 plants from each extreme representing the 'tolerant' and 'sensitive' plants, and found 11 AFLP markers associated with flooding tolerance. Of these, 10 co-segregated and were assigned to chromosome 1. Six SSR primer pairs around these markers were used to construct a linkage map. Composite interval mapping analysis revealed that a single QTL for degree of leaf injury was located on chromosome 1 (bin 1.03-4). Another QTL for flooding tolerance, evaluated as dry matter production under flooding with 0.2% starch, was located at the same position. These results suggest the potential to increase productivity by transferring flooding tolerance genes from F1649 to elite maize inbred lines.