Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals the Genetic Basis of Kernel and Cob Moisture Changes in Maize at Physiological Maturity Stage
Minyan Zhang,
Chaoyang Xiangchen,
Jiaquan Yan,
Yujuan Chengxu,
Hao Liu,
Chaoying Zou,
Guangtang Pan,
Yaou Shen,
Langlang Ma
Affiliations
Minyan Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Chaoyang Xiangchen
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Jiaquan Yan
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yujuan Chengxu
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Hao Liu
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Chaoying Zou
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Guangtang Pan
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yaou Shen
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Langlang Ma
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Low moisture content (MC) and high dehydration rate (DR) at physiological maturity affect grain mechanical harvest, transport, and storage. In this study, we used an association panel composed of 241 maize inbred lines to analyze ear moisture changes at physiological maturity stage. A genome-wide association study revealed nine significant SNPs and 91 candidate genes. One SNP (SYN38588) was repeatedly detected for two traits, and 15 candidate genes were scanned in the linkage disequilibrium regions of this SNP. Of these, genes Zm00001d020615 and Zm00001d020623 were individually annotated as a polygalacturonase (PG) and a copper transporter 5.1 (COPT5.1), respectively. Candidate gene association analysis showed that three SNPs located in the exons of Zm00001d020615 were significantly associated with the dehydration rate, and AATTAA was determined as the superior haplotype. All these findings suggested that Zm00001d020615 was a key gene affecting moisture changes of maize at the physiological maturity stage. These results have demonstrated the genetic basis of ear moisture changes in maize and indicated a superior haplotype for cultivating maize varieties with low moisture content and high dehydration rates.
