Identification of genomic regions associated with stay green in sorghum by testing RILs in multiple environments

• Published in: Theoretical and applied genetics 2000-06, Vol.100 (8), p.1225-1232
• Main Authors: TAO, Y. Z, HENZELL, R. G, JORDAN, D. R, BUTLER, D. G, KELLY, A. M, MCINTYRE, C. L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation to environment and cultivation conditions; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Drought; Efficiency; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic aspects; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Genomes; Genomics; Genotype & phenotype; Grain; Physiological aspects; Plant genetics; Senescence; Sorghum; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims
• ISSN: 0040-5752; 1432-2242
• DOI: 10.1007/s001220051428

Stay green is an important drought resistance trait for sorghum production. QTLs for this trait with consistent effects across a set of environments would increase the efficiency of selection because of its relatively low heritability. One hundred and sixty recombinant inbreds, derived from a cross between QL39 and QL41, were used as a segregating population for genome mapping and stay green evaluation. Phenotypic data were collected in replicated field trials from five sites and in three growing seasons, and analysed by fitting appropriate models to account for spatial variability and to describe the genotype by environment interaction. Interval mapping and non-parametric mapping identified three regions, each in a separate linkage group, associated with stay green in more than one trial, and two regions in single trial. The regions on linkage groups B and I were both consistently identified from three trials. The multiple environment testing was very helpful for correctly identifying QTLs associated with the trait. The utilisation of molecular markers for stay green in sorghum breeding is also discussed.