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Characterization and fine mapping of qkrnw4, a major QTL controlling kernel row number in maize

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Abstract

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A major QTL controlling kernel row number, qkrnw4, was identified by combining linkage analysis and association mapping. Within qkrnw4, on the basis of its expression and bioinformatics analysis, Zm00001d052910 was supposed to be the candidate gene for kernel row number.

Abstract

Kernel row number (KRN) is an important yield-related trait that affects kernel number in maize. Understanding the genetic basis of KRN is important for increasing maize yields. In the present study, by the use of a near-isogenic line (NIL) that has a B73 background and that consistently displays a low KRN across environments, qkrnw4, a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with KRN within a yield trait-related QTL hotspot in bin 4.08, was finely mapped to an ~ 33-kb interval. Regional association analysis of a nested association mapping population comprising 5000 recombinant inbred lines revealed Zm00001d052910, which encodes a protein with an unknown function, as the important candidate gene responsible for qkrnw4. Different expression levels of this candidate gene in immature ears were detected between the NIL and its recurrent parent. Moreover, the expression of several auxin-related genes was consistent with that of the candidate gene. Furthermore, the potential associations of this candidate gene with well-known inflorescence-related genes were discussed. The results of this study provide important information for the genetic elucidation of KRN variation in maize.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by grants provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31401395, 91735306), the Programs of MST of China (2016YFD0100303), and the CAAS (Innovation Program). We are grateful to CIMMYT for providing seeds of the NIL used in the study.

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  1. Ningning Nie and Xiaoyu Ding have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China

    Ningning Nie, Xiaoyu Ding, Lin Chen, Xun Wu, Yixin An, Chunhui Li, Yanchun Song, Dengfeng Zhang, Tianyu Wang, Yu Li, Yong-xiang Li & Yunsu Shi

  2. College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China

    Xiaoyu Ding & Zhizhai Liu

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  1. Ningning Nie
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  2. Xiaoyu Ding
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Contributions

NN and XD conducted field and genetic experiment, analyzed the data, and drafted the manuscript; LC, XW, YA and CL phenotyped kernel traits and analyzed the data. YS and DZ conducted field trials. TW, YL and ZL supervised the experiment and edited the manuscript. YL and YS designed the experiment, analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yong-xiang Li or Yunsu Shi.

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The experiments comply with the ethical standards in the country in which they were performed.

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Communicated by Thomas Lubberstedt.

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Nie, N., Ding, X., Chen, L. et al. Characterization and fine mapping of qkrnw4, a major QTL controlling kernel row number in maize. Theor Appl Genet 132, 3321–3331 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-019-03427-9

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