Genetic Basis and Exploration of Major Expressed QTL <i>qLA2-3</i> Underlying Leaf Angle in Maize
Yonghui He,
Chenxi Wang,
Xueyou Hu,
Youle Han,
Feng Lu,
Huanhuan Liu,
Xuecai Zhang,
Zhitong Yin
Affiliations
Yonghui He
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Chenxi Wang
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Xueyou Hu
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Youle Han
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Feng Lu
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Huanhuan Liu
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Xuecai Zhang
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico City 06600, Mexico
Zhitong Yin
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Leaf angle (LA) is closely related to plant architecture, photosynthesis and density tolerance in maize. In the current study, we used a recombinant inbred line population constructed by two maize-inbred lines to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling LA. Based on the average LA in three environments, 13 QTLs were detected, with the logarithm of odds ranging from 2.7 to 7.21, and the phenotypic variation explained by a single QTL ranged from 3.93% to 12.64%. A stable QTL, qLA2-3, on chromosome 2 was detected and was considered to be the major QTL controlling the LA. On the basis of verifying the genetic effect of qLA2-3, a fine map was used to narrow the candidate interval, and finally, the target segment was located at a physical distance of approximately 338.46 kb (B73 RefGen_v4 version), containing 16 genes. Re-sequencing and transcriptome results revealed that five candidate genes may be involved in the regulation of LA. The results enrich the information for molecular marker-assisted selection of maize LA and provide genetic resources for the breeding of dense planting varieties.
