QTL mapping of resistance to Fusarium ear rot using a RIL population in maize

Fusarium ear rot is a prevalent disease in maize, reducing grain yields and quality. Resistance breeding is an efficient way to minimize losses caused by the disease. In this study, 187 lines from a RIL population along with the resistant (87-1) and susceptible (Zong 3) parents were planted in Zhengzhou and Beijing with three replications in years 2004 and 2006. Each line was artificially inoculated using the nail-punch method. Significant genotypic variation in response to Fusarium ear rot was detected in both years. Based on a genetic map containing 246 polymorphic SSR markers with average genetic distances of 9.1 cM, the ear-rot resistance QTL were firstly analyzed by composite interval mapping (CIM). Three QTL were detected in both Zhengzhou and Beijing in 2004; and three and four QTL, respectively, were identified in 2006. The resistant parent contributed all resistance QTL. By using composite interval mapping and a mixed model (MCIM), significant epistatic effects on Fusarium ear rot as well as interactions between mapped loci and environments were observed across environments. Two QTL on chromosome 3 (3.04 bin) were consistently identified across all environments by the two methods. The major resistant QTL with the largest effect was flanked by markers umc1025 and umc1742 on chromosome 3 (3.04 bin), explaining 13–22% of the phenotypic variation. The SSR markers closely flanking the major resistance QTL will facilitate marker-assisted selection (MAS) of resistance to Fusarium ear rot in maize breeding programs.     

A new QTL for resistance to Fusarium ear rot in maize

Understanding the inheritance of resistance to Fusarium ear rot is a basic prerequisite for an efficient resistance breeding in maize. In this study, 250 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) along with their resistant (BT-1) and susceptible (N6) parents were planted in Zhengzhou with three replications in 2007 and 2008. Each line was artificially inoculated using the nail-punch method. Significant genotypic variation in response to Fusarium ear rot was detected in both years. Based on a genetic map containing 207 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers with average genetic distances of 8.83?cM, the ear rot resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) were analyzed by composite interval mapping with a mixed model (MCIM) across the environments. In total, four QTL were detected on chromosomes 3, 4, 5, and 6. The resistance allele at each of these four QTL was contributed by resistant parent BT-1, and accounted for 2.5-10.2% of the phenotypic variation. However, no significant epistasis interaction effect was detected after a two-dimensional genome scan. Among the four QTL, one QTL with the largest effect on chromosome 4 (bin 4.06) can be suggested to be a new locus for resistance to Fusarium ear rot, which broadens the genetic base for resistance to the disease and can be used for further genetic improvement in maize-breeding programs.     

玉米抗镰刀菌穗腐病接种方法及抗病资源筛选研究

对玉米抗穗腐病性鉴定中采用的牙签法与花丝通道注射法进行比较研究表明,牙签法接种果穗的发病程度重于花丝通道注射法接种。牙签法接种病菌于果穗子粒与穗轴之间,有利于病原菌的发育扩展,是一种比较理想的、容易操作的接种方法。采用牙签法接种串珠镰刀菌,对178份玉米自交系和15份杂交种进行抗穗腐病鉴定,筛选出高抗(HR)自交系1份、抗病(R)玉米自交系34份、抗病(R)玉米杂交种12份。     

Identification of a major quantitative trait locus for resistance to maize rough dwarf virus in a Chinese maize inbred line X178 using a linkage map based on 514 gene-derived single nucleotide polymorphisms

Maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD) is a worldwide viral disease and causes significant yield losses in maize (Zea mays L.) production. In this study, we mapped and characterized quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring resistance to MRDD using 89 F8 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between X178 (resistant parent) and B73 (susceptible). The population was evaluated for MRDD resistance in Baoding, Hebei Province, China (a hot spot of MRDD incidence) under natural infection in 2008 and 2009 and artificial inoculation in 2010. Genotypic variances for disease severity index (DSI) were highly significant in the population. Heritability estimates for DSI evaluation were 0.472 and 0.467 in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The linkage map was constructed using 514 gene-derived single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 72 simple sequence repeat markers, spanning a genetic distance of 1,059.72?cM with an average interval of 1.8?cM between adjacent markers. Multiple-QTL model mapping detected a major QTL for MRDD resistance on chromosome 8, explaining 24.6?C37.3% of the phenotypic variation across three environments. In 2010, an additional QTL was detected on chromosome 10, explaining 15.8% of the phenotypic variation. The major QTL on chromosome 8 and the SNP markers (SNP31, SNP548, and SNP284) co-located with the QTL peak have potential for further functional genomic analysis and use in molecular marker-assisted selection for MRDD resistance in maize.     

QTL mapping for reaction to Phaeosphaeria leaf spot in a tropical maize population

Phaeosphaeria leaf spot (PLS) is an important disease in tropical and subtropical maize (Zea mays, L.) growing areas, but there is limited information on its inheritance. Thus, this research was conducted to study the inheritance of the PLS disease in tropical maize by using QTL mapping and to assess the feasibility of using marker-assisted selection aimed to develop genotypes resistance to this disease. Highly susceptible L14-04B and highly resistant L08-05F inbred lines were crossed to develop an F₂ population. Two-hundred and fifty six F₂ plants were genotyped with 143 microsatellite markers and their F_2:3 progenies were evaluated at seven environments. Ten plants per plot were evaluated 30 days after silk emergence following a rating scale, and the plot means were used for analyses. The heritability coefficient on a progeny mean basis was high (91.37%), and six QTL were mapped, with one QTL on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, and 6, and two QTL on chromosome 8. The gene action of the QTL ranged from additive to partial dominance, and the average level of dominance was partial dominance; also a dominance × dominance epistatic effect was detected between the QTL mapped on chromosome 8. The phenotypic variance explained by each QTL ranged from 2.91 to 11.86%, and the joint QTL effects explained 41.62% of the phenotypic variance. The alleles conditioning resistance to PLS disease of all mapped QTL were in the resistant parental inbred L08-05F. Thus, these alleles could be transferred to other elite maize inbreds by marker-assisted backcross selection to develop hybrids resistant to PLS disease.     

Marker-assisted introgression of qHSR1 to improve maize resistance to head smut

Head smut, one of the most devastating diseases in maize, causes severe yield losses worldwide. Resistance to head smut has been proven to be a quantitative inherited trait. In our previous study, a major resistance quantitative trait locus (named qHSR1) was detected on maize chromosome 2 (bin 2.09), and a number of molecular markers have been developed in the qHSR1 region. Here, we report the marker-assisted introgression of qHSR1 to improve maize resistance to head smut. The 10 maize inbred lines, namely Ji853, 444, 98107, 99094, Chang7-2, V022, V4, 982, 8903, and 8902, which have high yield potential but are susceptible to head smut, were selected for resistance improvement. Each of the 10 high-yielding lines was crossed with a donor parent Ji1037 that is completely resistant to head smut, followed by five generations of backcrossing to the respective recurrent parent. Marker-assisted foreground selection was conducted to identify qHSR1. Recombinant selection was carried out in the fourth backcross (BC4) generation by using the flanking markers to reduce the size of the Ji1037 donor segment carrying qHSR1. Background selection was performed in the BC5 generation with genome-wide SSR markers to select the line with the highest recovery rate of the recurrent parent genome. Self-pollination was conducted twice for the BC5 plant with both the shortest qHSR1 region and the highest recovery rate to obtain converted inbred lines harboring qHSR1. The 10 converted inbred lines all showed substantial improvement in resistance to head smut. Furthermore, the hybrids prepared from the converted lines also showed significant increase in resistance to head smut, while remaining mostly unchanged for other agronomic traits.     

Molecular mapping of QTLs for resistance to Gibberella ear rot, in corn, caused by Fusarium graminearum.

Gibberella ear rot, caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, is a serious disease of corn (Zea mays) grown in northern climates. Infected corn is lower yielding and contains toxins that are dangerous to livestock and humans. Resistance to ear rot in corn is quantitative, specific to the mode of fungal entry (silk channels or kernel wounds), and highly influenced by the environment. Evaluations of ear rot resistance are complex and subjective; and they need to be repeated over several years. All of these factors have hampered attempts to develop F. graminearum resistant corn varieties. The aim of this study was to identify molecular markers linked to the genes for resistance to Gibberella ear rot. A recombinant inbred (RI) population, produced from a cross between a Gibberella ear rot resistant line (CO387) and a susceptible line (CG62), was field-inoculated and scored for Gibberella ear rot symptoms in the F4, F6, and F7 generations. The distributions of disease scores were continuous, indicating that resistance is probably conditioned by multiple loci. A molecular linkage map, based on segregation in the F5 RI population, contained 162 markers distributed over 10 linkage groups and had a total length of 2237 cM with an average distance between markers of 13.8 cM. Composite interval mapping identified 11 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for Gibberella ear rot resistance following silk inoculation and 18 QTLs following kernel inoculation in 4 environments that accounted for 6.7%-35% of the total phenotypic variation. Only 2 QTLs (on linkage group 7) were detected in more than 1 test for silk resistance, and only 1 QTL (on linkage group 5) was detected in more than 1 test for kernel resistance, confirming the strong influence of the environment on these traits. The majority of the favorable alleles were derived from the resistant parent (CO387). The germplasm and markers for QTLs with significant phenotypic effects may be useful for marker-assisted selection to incorporate Gibberella ear rot resistance into commercial corn cultivars.     

Analysis of the genetic architecture of maize ear and grain morphological traits by combined linkage and association mapping

Key message

Using combined linkage and association mapping, 26 stable QTL and six stable SNPs were detected across multiple environments for eight ear and grain morphological traits in maize. One QTL, PKS2, might play an important role in maize yield improvement.

Abstract

In the present study, one bi-parental population and an association panel were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for eight ear and grain morphological traits. A total of 108 QTL related to these traits were detected across four environments using an ultra-high density bin map constructed using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between Ye478 and Qi319, and 26 QTL were identified in more than two environments. Furthermore, 64 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found to be significantly associated with the eight ear and grain morphological traits (?log₁₀(P)?>?4) in an association panel of 240 maize inbred lines. Combining the two mapping populations, a total of 17 pleiotropic QTL/SNPs (pQTL/SNPs) were associated with various traits across multiple environments. PKS2, a stable locus influencing kernel shape identified on chromosome 2 in a genome-wide association study (GWAS), was within the QTL confidence interval defined by the RILs. The candidate region harbored a short 13-Kb LD block encompassing four SNPs (SYN11386, PHM14783.16, SYN11392, and SYN11378). In the association panel, 13 lines derived from the hybrid PI78599 possessed the same allele as Qi319 at the PHM14783.16 (GG) locus, with an average value of 0.21 for KS, significantly lower than that of the 34 lines derived from Ye478 that carried a different allele (0.25, P?<?0.05). Therefore, further fine mapping of PKS2 will provide valuable information for understanding the genetic components of grain yield and improving molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) in maize.

     

Genetic mapping of two QTL from the wild tomato Solanum pimpinellifolium L. controlling resistance against two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch)

A novel source of resistance to two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) was found in Solanum pimpinellifolium L. accession TO-937 and thereby a potential source of desirable traits that could be introduced into new tomato varieties. This resistance was found to be controlled by a major locus modulated by minor loci of unknown location in the genome of this wild tomato. We first applied a bulked segregant analysis (BSA) approach in an F₄ population as a method for rapidly identifying a genomic region of 17 cM on chromosome 2, flanked by two simple sequence repeat markers, harboring Rtu2.1, one of the major QTL involved in the spider mite resistance. A population of 169 recombinant inbred lines was also evaluated for spider mite infestation and a highly saturated genetic map was developed from this population. QTL mapping corroborated that chromosome 2 harbored the Rtu2.1 QTL in the same region that our previous BSA findings pointed out, but an even more robust QTL was found in the telomeric region of this chromosome. This QTL, we termed Rtu2.2, had a LOD score of 15.43 and accounted for more than 30 % of the variance of two-spotted spider mite resistance. Several candidate genes involved in trichome formation, synthesis of trichomes exudates and plant defense signaling have been sequenced. However, either the lack of polymorphisms between the parental lines or their map position, away from the QTL, led to their rejection as candidate genes responsible for the two-spotted spider mite resistance. The Rtu2 QTL not only serve as a valuable target for marker-assisted selection of new spider mite-resistant tomato varieties, but also as a starting point for a better understanding of the molecular genetic functions underlying the resistance to this pest.     

Construction of a genome-anchored,high-density genetic map for melon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis melo</Emphasis> L.) and identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">melonis</Emphasis> race 1 resistance QTL

Key message

Four QTLs and an epistatic interaction were associated with disease severity in response to inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis race 1 in a recombinant inbred line population of melon.

Abstract

The USDA Cucumis melo inbred line, MR-1, harbors a wealth of alleles associated with resistance to several major diseases of melon, including powdery mildew, downy mildew, Alternaria leaf blight, and Fusarium wilt. MR-1 was crossed to an Israeli cultivar, Ananas Yok’neam, which is susceptible to all of these diseases, to generate a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of 172 lines. In this study, the RIL population was genotyped to construct an ultra-dense genetic linkage map with 5663 binned SNPs anchored to the C. melo genome and exhibits the overall high quality of the assembly. The utility of the densely genotyped population was demonstrated through QTL mapping of a well-studied trait, resistance to Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (Fom) race 1. A major QTL co-located with the previously validated resistance gene Fom-2. In addition, three minor QTLs and an epistatic interaction contributing to Fom race 1 resistance were identified. The MR-1 × AY RIL population provides a valuable resource for future QTL mapping studies and marker-assisted selection of disease resistance in melon.

     

Identification of novel QTL contributing resistance to aflatoxin accumulation in maize

The toxic metabolic product aflatoxin produced by the opportunistic fungus Aspergillus flavus (Link:Fr) in maize (Zea mays L.) can cause disease and economic harm when levels exceed very minute quantities. The selection of resistant germplasm has great potential to reduce the problem, but the highly quantitative nature of the trait makes this a difficult endeavor. The identification of aflatoxin accumulation resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) from resistant donor lines and the discovery of linked markers could speed this task. To identify marker–trait associations for marker-assisted breeding, a genetic mapping population of F_2:3 families was developed from Mp715, a maize inbred line resistant to aflatoxin accumulation, and T173, a susceptible, southern-adapted maize inbred line. QTL, some with large phenotypic effects, were identified in multiple years on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, and 10, and smaller QTL identified in only 1 year were found on chromosomes 4 and 9. The phenotypic effect of each QTL ranged from 2.7 to 18.5%, and models created with multiple QTL could explain up to 45.7% of the phenotypic variation across years, indicating that the variation associated with the trait can be manipulated using molecular markers.     

玉米雄穗颜色QTL分析

雄穗是玉米的重要生殖器官,不同品种间玉米的雄穗外观差异明显。对玉米雄穗的颜色进行遗传分析和QTL定位,筛选与雄穗颜色紧密连锁的分子标记,可以作为玉米的品种保护和品种鉴别的有用工具。同时,紫色雄穗中花色苷类色素含量较高,与玉米雄穗的抗虫性密切相关。本研究利用一个黑玉米自交系SDM为共同父本,分别与白玉米自交系木6和黄玉米自交系Mo17杂交,构建2个相关F2∶3群体,分别命名为MuS(木6×SDM)和MoS(Mo17×SDM),在云南和重庆两个不同的环境中种植,对玉米花药颜色(COAn)和花药护颖颜色(COCa)2个性状进行QTL定位。结果表明:玉米花药和花药护颖的颜色均为数量性状,受主效基因和微效基因共同控制。2个群体在2个环境中共检测到7个与花药颜色相关的QTL,位于第2、3、6和10染色体上,其中位于第10染色体标记区间umc1196a-IDP8526内的QTL在重庆和云南同时表达,对表型的贡献率分别为23.17%和19.98%;2个群体在2个环境中共检测到9个与花药护颖颜色相关的QTL,位于第3、6、9和10染色体上,其中3个QTL为环境钝感QTL(在2个环境中均表达,且至少在1个环境中贡献率大于10%),分别位于第6染色体标记区间umc1979-umc1796、mmc0523-umc2006内和第10染色体标记区间umc1196a-umc2043内,对表型的贡献率为10.69%～59.30%。2个群体检测到的主效QTL的位置和效应高度一致,且控制花药颜色和花药护颖颜色2个性状的主效QTL有连锁分布的现象,主要表现在bins 6.04处的标记mmc0523和bins 10.04处的标记IDP8526附近。位于第6和第10染色体上的在不同环境和遗传背景下稳定的QTL可以作为进一步精细定位的靶位点,也可以为玉米雄穗颜色的分子标记辅助选择提供有价值的参考。     

玉米株高和穗位高的遗传基础与分子机制*

株高和穗位高是玉米重要育种性状,直接影响植株的养分利用效率及抗倒伏性,进而影响玉米产量。玉米株高和穗位高属于典型数量性状,目前通过数量性状位点(quantitative trait loci mapping,QTL)定位和全基因组关联分析(genome-wide association study, GWAS)等方法已挖掘到较多相关遗传位点,通过QTL精细定位及利用突变体克隆了一些调控株高和穗位高关键基因。但是由于各研究组所利用的群体类型和大小、标记类型和密度以及统计方法不同,所鉴定QTL差异较大,单个研究难以揭示玉米株高和穗位高遗传结构。早期QTL定位的结果多以遗传距离来展示,不同时期GWAS研究所使用参考基因组版本不同,这进一步增加了借鉴和利用前人研究结果的难度。首次将目前已鉴定株高和穗位高遗传定位信息统一锚定至玉米自交系B73参考基因组V4版本,构建了株高和穗位高性状定位的一致性图谱,并鉴定出可被多个独立研究定位的热点区间。进一步对已克隆玉米株高和穗位高调控基因进行总结与分类,揭示株高和穗位高性状调控机制,对深度解析株高和穗位高遗传结构、指导基因克隆和利用分子标记辅助选择优化玉米株高和穗位高性状均具有重要意义。     

QTL Conferring Fusarium Crown Rot Resistance in the Elite Bread Wheat Variety EGA Wylie

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is one of the most damaging cereal diseases in semi-arid regions worldwide. The genetics of FCR resistance in the bread wheat (Triticum eastivum L.) variety EGA Wylie, the most resistant commercial variety available, was studied by QTL mapping. Three populations of recombinant inbred lines were developed with this elite variety as the resistant parent. Four QTL conferring FCR resistance were detected and resistance alleles of all of them were derived from the resistant parent EGA Wylie. One of these loci was located on the short arm of chromosome 5D (designated as Qcrs.cpi-5D). This QTL explains up to 31.1% of the phenotypic variance with an LOD value of 9.6. The second locus was located on the long arm of chromosome 2D (designated as Qcrs.cpi-2D) and explained up to 20.2% of the phenotypic variance with an LOD value of 4.5. Significant effects of both Qcrs.cpi-5D and Qcrs.cpi-2D were detected in each of the three populations assessed. Another two QTL (designated as Qcrs.cpi-4B.1 and Qcrs.cpi-4B.2, respectively) were located on the short arm of chromosome 4B. These two QTL explained up to 16.9% and 18.8% of phenotypic variance, respectively. However, significant effects of Qcrs.cpi-4B.1 and Qcrs.cpi-4B.2 were not detected when the effects of plant height was accounted for by covariance analysis. The elite characteristics of this commercial variety should facilitate the incorporation of the resistance loci it contains into breeding programs.     

Construction of high-density linkage map and identification of QTLs for resistance to sorghum downy mildew in maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.)

Sorghum downy mildew (SDM), caused by obligate biotrophic fungi Peronosclerospora sorghi, is an economically important disease of maize. The genetics of resistance was reported to be polygenic thereby necessitating identification of QTLs for resistance to SDM to initiate effective marker-assisted selection programs. During post-rainy and winter season of 2012, 645 F_2:3 progeny families from the cross CML153 (susceptible) × CML226 (resistant) were screened for their reaction to SDM. Characterization of QTLs affecting resistance to SDM was undertaken using the genetic linkage map with 319 polymorphic SSR and SNP marker loci and the phenotypic data of F_2:3 families. Three QTLs conferring resistance to SDM were consistently identified on chromosomes 2, 3 and 6 in both seasons. The resistant parent CML226 contributed all the QTL alleles conferring resistance to SDM. The major QTL located on chromosome 2 explained 38.68% of total phenotypic variation in the combined analysis with a LOD score of 9.12. All the three QTL showed partially dominant gene effects in combined analysis. The detection of more than one QTL supports the hypothesis that quantitative genes control resistance to P. sorghi. The generation was advanced to F₆ using markers linked to major QTLs on chromosomes 2 and 3 to derive 33 SDM resistant maize inbred lines.     

A Novel and Major Quantitative Trait Locus for Fusarium Crown Rot Resistance in a Genotype of Wild Barley (Hordeum spontaneum L.)

Fusarium crown rot (FCR), caused by various Fusarium species, is a destructive disease of cereal crops in semiarid regions worldwide. As part of our contribution to the development of Fusarium resistant cultivars, we identified several novel sources of resistance by systematically assessing barley genotypes representing different geographical origins and plant types. One of these sources of resistance was investigated in this study by generating and analysing two populations of recombinant inbred lines. A major locus conferring FCR resistance, designated as Qcrs.cpi-4H, was detected in one of the populations (mapping population) and the effects of the QTL was confirmed in the other population. The QTL was mapped to the distal end of chromosome arm 4HL and it is effective against both of the Fusarium isolates tested, one F. pseudograminearum and the other F. graminearum. The QTL explains up to 45.3% of the phenotypic variance. As distinct from an earlier report which demonstrated co-locations of loci conferring FCR resistance and plant height in barley, a correlation between these two traits was not detected in the mapping population. However, as observed in a screen of random genotypes, an association between FCR resistance and plant growth rate was detected and a QTL controlling the latter was detected near the Qcrs.cpi-4H locus in the mapping population. Existing data indicate that, although growth rate may affect FCR resistance, different genes at this locus are likely involved in controlling these two traits.     

玉米种质资源对六种重要病虫害的抗性鉴定与评价

在2003-2005年间,对604份玉米种质进行了抗弯孢菌叶斑病和玉米螟鉴定,筛选出抗弯孢菌叶斑病的材料93份,抗玉米螟材料22份。2006-2009年间,对836份玉米种质进行了抗大斑病、茎腐病、穗腐病和瘤黑粉病的鉴定与评价,筛选出一批高抗和多抗的资源。在836份资源中,对大斑病1、2和N号3个生理小种具有抗性的材料均为50%左右;抗茎腐病材料为41.3%,高抗和抗性种质分别为264和81份;穗腐病高抗和抗性种质分别为5和171份,占比为21.1%;瘤黑粉病高抗和抗性种质各261和14份,占总鉴定材料的32.9%。上述结果表明抗大斑病、茎腐病和瘤黑粉病的种质资源较为丰富。通过对抗性结果进行对比分析,发现不同生态区玉米种质的抗性强弱以及抗性多样性存在明显差异,黑龙江和内蒙古的种质对病虫害的抗性强弱及多样性程度明显高于四川种质。此外,玉米自交系对病虫害的抗性强弱以及多抗性程度高于农家种。     

A resistance-like gene identified by EST mapping and its association with a QTL controlling Fusarium head blight infection on wheat chromosome 3BS.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a major disease in the wheat growing regions of the world. A quantitative trait locus (QTL) on the short arm of chromosome 3B controls much of the variation for resistance. The cloning of candidate disease-resistance genes for FHB QTLs on chromosome 3B can provide further elucidation of the mechanisms that control resistance. However, rearrangements and divergence during plant genome evolution often hampers the identification of sequences with similarity to known disease-resistance genes. This study focuses on the use of wheat expressed sequence tags (ESTs) that map to the region on chromosome 3B containing the QTL for FHB resistance and low-stringency BLAST searching to identify sequences with similarity to known disease-resistance genes. One EST rich with leucine repeats and low similarity to a protein kinase domain of the barley Rpg1 gene was identified. Genetic mapping using a Ning894037 x Alondra recombinant inbred (RI) population showed that this EST mapped to the QTL on the short arm of chromosome 3B and may represent a portion of a newly diverged gene contributing to FHB resistance. The EST is a new marker suitable for marker-assisted selection and provides a starting point to begin map-based cloning for chromosome walking and investigate new diverged genes at this locus.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">qRfg3</Emphasis>, a novel quantitative resistance locus against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gibberella</Emphasis> stalk rot in maize

Key message

A quantitative trait locus  qRfg3 imparts recessive resistance to maize Gibberella stalk rot. qRfg3 has been mapped into a 350-kb interval and could reduce the disease severity index by ~26.6%.

Abstract

Gibberella stalk rot, caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum, severely affects maize yield and grain quality worldwide. To identify more resistance quantitative trait loci (QTLs) against this disease, we analyzed a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between resistant H127R and susceptible C7-2 inbred lines. Within this population, maize resistance to Gibberella stalk rot had high broad-sense heritability. A major QTL, qRfg3, on chromosome 3 was consistently detected across three field trials, accounting for 10.7–19.4% of the total phenotypic variation. Using a progeny-based sequential fine-mapping strategy, we narrowed qRfg3 down to an interval of ~350 kb. We further demonstrated that qRfg3 is a recessive resistance locus to Gibberella stalk rot that reduced the disease severity index by ~26.6%. Both the gene location and recessive genetic mode distinguish qRfg3 from other stalk rot resistance loci. Hence, qRfg3 is valuable as a complement to existing resistance QTLs to improve maize resistance to Gibberella stalk rot.