Fine genetic characterization of elite maize germplasm using high-throughput SNP genotyping

To investigate the genetic structure of Chinese maize germplasm, the MaizeSNP50 BeadChip with 56,110 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was used to genotype a collection of 367 inbred lines widely used in maize breeding of China. A total of 41,819 informative SNPs with minor allele number of more than 0.05 were used to estimate the genetic diversity, relatedness, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay. Totally 1,015 SNPs evenly distributed in the genome were selected randomly to evaluate the population structure of these accessions. Results showed that two main groups could be determined i.e., the introduced germplasm and the local germplasm. Further, five subgroups corresponding to different heterotic groups, that is, Reid Yellow Dent (Reid), Lancaster Sure Crop (Lancaster), P group (P), Tang Sipingtou (TSPT), and Tem-tropic I group (Tem-tropic I), were determined. The genetic diversity of within subgroups was highest in the Tem-Tropic I and lowest in the P. Most lines in this panel showed limited relatedness with each other. Comparisons of gene diversity showed that there existed some conservative genetic regions in specific subgroups across the ten chromosomes, i.e., seven in the Lancaster, seven in the Reid, six in the TSPT, five in the P, and two in the Tem-Tropical I. In addition, the results also revealed that there existed fifteen conservative regions transmitted from Huangzaosi, an important foundation parent, to its descendants. These are important for further studies since the outcomes may provide clues to understand why Huangzaosi could become a foundation parent in Chinese maize breeding. For the panel of 367 elite lines, average LD distance was 391 kb and varied among different chromosomes as well as in different genomic regions of one chromosome. This analysis uncovered a high natural genetic diversity in the elite maize inbred set, suggesting that the panel can be used in association study, esp. for temperate regions.     

不同杂种优势群玉米籽粒脱水速率分析

研究不同杂种优势群玉米自交系籽粒脱水速率的特性,筛选脱水速率快的自交系,为选育适应机械化作业的玉米杂交种提供借鉴。本试验采用烘干测定173份玉米自交系的籽粒的脱水速率及其相关性状,利用覆盖玉米全基因组的210对SSR标记对实验材料进行全基因组扫描,通过Structure V2.3.4 软件揭示其群体结构。对不同杂种优势群平均籽粒脱水速率进行方差分析,并筛选出各个群中籽粒灌浆速率快的自交系。研究结果如下：籽粒脱水速率在不同自交系间存在显著差异,与苞叶、穗轴及籽粒的含水率等性状间存在显著相关性。试验共筛选到脱水速率大于1%的自交系20个;授粉后40天时籽粒的含水率低于21%的自交系10个。参试自交系分成P、旅大红骨、瑞德、兰卡斯特和塘四平头5个杂种优势群;授粉后40天脱水速率依次是Reid群0.92%、Lancaster群0.85%、旅大红骨群0.82%、混合群0.80%、P群0.76%、塘四平头群0.56%。     

中国重要玉米自交系种质资源子粒性状特征分析

玉米子粒性状是决定玉米产量的重要因素。为了解析中国重要玉米种质资源子粒性状的遗传变异基础,本研究以具有广泛遗传多样性的627份重要玉米自交系为材料,运用相关分析与逐步回归的方法,探讨了我国玉米自交系种质资源的子粒性状特征。结果表明,百粒体积与百粒重存在极显著正相关。逐步回归分析表明,百粒体积对百粒重表型变异的贡献高达78%。针对不同杂种优势群的子粒性状特征分析表明,粒宽对百粒体积的贡献率在瑞德、旅大红骨、兰卡斯特和P群中均为最大,贡献率在54%~71%之间。而在塘四平头类群中,粒厚和粒长的贡献率分别为45%和22%。该研究旨在为利用不同类型种质资源开展子粒性状遗传解析提供参考和依据。     

Differential effect of the nitrogen form on the leaf gas exchange,amino acid composition,and antioxidant response of sweet pepper at elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Cell wall invertases play an important role in plant growth and development, especially in the grain filling of crop plants. However, their potential in high yield crop breeding has not been investigated. In this study, the main hybrid maize cultivar Zheng Dan 958 (ZD958) was used as a basic variety to assess whether ZmGIF1, a cell wall invertase from maize, can be used to breed new cultivars with higher grain yields. ZmGIF1 expression, cell wall invertase activity, and sugar content in different parental inbred cultivars were compared with those in Zheng 58 and Chang 7-2, the parental inbred cultivars of ZD958. Parental cultivars which showed higher ZmGIF1 expression and invertase activity were selected and intercrossed to improve the expression of ZmGIF1. Compared with the basic cultivar ZD958, higher ZmGIF1 expression and cell wall invertase activity were observed in most hybrid F1 lines, leading to increased grain yield in them. All these results suggest that the expression of ZmGIF1 can be manipulated using different parental cultivars to increase the grain yield of their hybrid F1 progenies.     

喀斯特高海拔山区玉米骨干自交系遗传多样性RAPD标记分析

以代表我国玉米6个主要杂种优势群旅大红骨、Lancaster、Reid、苏湾、墨白和塘四平头的标准测验种丹340、自330、7922、苏37、449、黄早四和适应我国喀斯特高海拔山区的玉米骨干自交系为材料,利用RAPD标记对其进行遗传多样性和杂种优势群划分.从90个随机引物中筛选出21个多态性好的引物扩增材料,共产生146条谱带,其中124条谱带有多态性,占86.3%,说明喀斯特高海拔山区的玉米骨干自交系具有较丰富的遗传多样性.通过UPGMA聚类分析,以遗传相似系数为0.632,可将我国喀斯特高海拔山区玉米种质资源的16个骨干自交系划分为5个类群.     

玉米种质资源抗矮花叶病鉴定

采用摩擦接种方法,鉴定了3995份玉米种质对玉米矮花叶病毒(SCMV-MDB)的抗病性。经重复鉴定,筛选出抗病优良自交系73份,抗病丰产杂交种80份。玉米不同类群种质,对SCMV-MDB的抗病性有明显差异,改良Reid、Lancaster、旅大红骨类群种质大部分表现感病;塘四平头、外杂先锋选系类群种质大多数表现抗病。在不同类型种质中,硬粒型、马齿型和半马齿型表现抗病的较多,糯质型较少,甜质型和爆裂型中尚未发现抗源。     

General and specific combining abilities in a maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) test-cross hybrid panel: relative importance of population structure and genetic divergence between parents

Key message

General and specific combining abilities of maize hybrids between 288 inbred lines and three tester lines were highly related to population structure and genetic distance inferred from SNP data.

Abstract

Many studies have attempted to provide reliable and quick methods to identify promising parental lines and combinations in hybrid breeding programs. Since the 1950s, maize germplasm has been organized into heterotic groups to facilitate the exploitation of heterosis. Molecular markers have proven efficient tools to address the organization of genetic diversity and the relationship between lines or populations. The aim of the present work was to investigate to what extent marker-based evaluations of population structure and genetic distance may account for general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability components in a population composed of 800 inter and intra-heterotic group hybrids obtained by crossing 288 inbred lines and three testers. Our results illustrate a strong effect of groups identified by population structure analysis on both GCA and SCA components. Including genetic distance between parental lines of hybrids in the model leads to a significant decrease of SCA variance component and an increase in GCA variance component for all the traits. The latter suggests that this approach can be efficient to better estimate the potential combining ability of inbred lines when crossed with unrelated lines, and limits the consequences of tester choice. Significant residual GCA and SCA variance components of models taking into account structure and/or genetic distance highlight the variation available for breeding programs within structure groups.

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">qNCLB7.02</Emphasis>, a novel QTL for resistance to northern corn leaf blight in maize

Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB), which is caused by the hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Setosphaeria turcica, is a devastating foliar disease that results in considerable maize yield losses. In the present study, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was conducted across two environments using an ultra-high-density bin map constructed using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between Ye478 and Qi319. A total of 11 QTLs, located on chromosomes 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, were detected that confer resistance to physiological race 0 of NCLB. Each QTL could explain 3.53–15.29% of the total phenotypic variation in disease resistance after artificial inoculation in two environments. Among these QTL, qNCLB7.02, which is located on chromosome 7, had the largest effect, accounting for 10.11 and 15.29% of the phenotypic variation in resistance in two field trials and BLUP. The common confidence interval (CI) for qNCLB7.02 was 1.4 Mb, according to the B73 RefGen_v3 sequence. The resistance effect of qNCLB7.02 was validated in 2016 by using chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) derived from Qi319 as the donor in the genetic background of Ye478. The type 6 CSSL, which harbors introgressed qNCLB7.02, was found to be significantly associated with resistance to NCLB by linked marker bnlg1808 and exhibited greater resistance than the other CSSLs that did not carry this QTL (P?=?0.0008). The combination of linkage mapping in RILs and validation in CSSLs is a powerful approach for the dissection of QTL for disease resistance in maize.     

玉米重要自交系的肿囊腐霉茎腐病抗性鉴定与评价

由肿囊腐霉菌(Pythium inflatum Matthews)引起的玉米茎腐病是影响玉米产量的一种重要病害。为进一步拓展可利用的抗源,于2010-2011年在田间采用人工接种方法对287份重要的玉米自交系种质进行了玉米茎腐病的抗性鉴定评价。结果表明,287份鉴定材料中有171份自交系对茎腐病的抗性达到中抗以上水平,占鉴定材料的59.58%,其中高抗自交系共43份,占鉴定材料总数的14.98%;感病类型自交系共116份,占鉴定材料的40.42%,其中高感自交系共95份,占鉴定材料总数的33.10%。Lancaster、Reid及P群种质中具有丰富的茎腐病抗源,而塘四平头种质群中茎腐病抗源相对缺乏,多为感病类型。该研究结果可为今后我国玉米茎腐病抗性种质的引进和改良提供重要参考。     

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.

     

Grouping of tropical mid-altitude maize inbred lines on the basis of yield data and molecular markers

The classification of maize inbred lines into heterotic groups is an important undertaking in hybrid breeding. The objectives of our research were to: (1) separate selected tropical mid-altitude maize inbred lines into heterotic groups based on grain yield data; (2) assess the genetic relationships among these inbred lines using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers; (3) examine the consistency between yield-based and marker-based groupings of the inbred lines. Thirty-eight tropical mid-altitude maize inbred lines were crossed to two inbred line testers representing the flint and dent heterotic pattern, respectively. The resulting testcrosses were evaluated in a trial at three locations for 2 years. Significant general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects for grain yield were detected among the inbred lines. The tester inbred lines classified 23 of the 38 tested inbred lines into two heterotic groups based on SCA effects and testcross mean grain yields. This grouping was not related to endosperm type of the inbred lines. The outstanding performance of testcrosses of the remaining 15 inbred lines indicates the presence of significant genetic diversity that may allow the assignment of the lines into more than two heterotic groups. Diversity analysis of the 40 maize inbred lines using AFLP and SSR markers found high levels of genetic diversity among these lines and subdivided them into two main groups with subdivision into sub-groups consistent with breeding history, origin and parentage of the lines. However, heterotic groups formed using yield-based combining ability were different from the groups established on the basis of molecular markers. Considering the diversity of the genetic backgrounds of the mid-altitude inbred lines, the marker-based grouping may serve as the basis to design and carry out combining ability studies in the field to establish clearly defined heterotic groups with a greater genetic similarity within groups.Communicated by H.H. Geiger     

Evaluation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ZmCCT</Emphasis> haplotypes for genetic improvement of maize hybrids

Key message

The elite ZmCCT haplotypes which have no transposable element in the promoter could enhance maize resistance to Gibberella stalk rot and improve yield-related traits, while having no or mild impact on flowering time. Therefore, they are expected to have great value in future maize breeding programs.

Abstract

A CCT domain-containing gene, ZmCCT, is involved in both photoperiod response and stalk rot resistance in maize. At least 15 haplotypes are present at the ZmCCT locus in maize germplasm, whereas only three of them are found in Chinese commercial maize hybrids. Here, we evaluated ZmCCT haplotypes for their potential application in corn breeding. Nine resistant ZmCCT haplotypes that have no CACTA-like transposable element in the promoter were introduced into seven elite maize inbred lines by marker-assisted backcrossing. The resultant 63 converted lines had 0.7-5.1 Mb of resistant ZmCCT donor segments with over 90% recovery rates. All converted lines tested exhibited enhanced resistance to maize stalk rot but varied in photoperiod sensitivity. There was a close correlation between the hybrids and their parental lines with respect to both resistance performance and photoperiod sensitivity. Furthermore, in a given hybrid A5302/83B28, resistant ZmCCT haplotype could largely improve yield-related traits, such as ear length and 100-kernel weight, resulting in enhanced grain yield. Of nine resistant ZmCCT haplotypes, haplotype H5 exhibited excellent performance for both flowering time and stalk rot resistance and is thus expected to have potential value in future maize breeding programs.

     

Hybrid wheat: quantitative genetic parameters and consequences for the design of breeding programs

Key message

Commercial heterosis for grain yield is present in hybrid wheat but long-term competiveness of hybrid versus line breeding depends on the development of heterotic groups to improve hybrid prediction.

Abstract

Detailed knowledge of the amount of heterosis and quantitative genetic parameters are of paramount importance to assess the potential of hybrid breeding. Our objectives were to (1) examine the extent of midparent, better-parent and commercial heterosis in a vast population of 1,604 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) hybrids and their parental elite inbred lines and (2) discuss the consequences of relevant quantitative parameters for the design of hybrid wheat breeding programs. Fifteen male lines were crossed in a factorial mating design with 120 female lines, resulting in 1,604 of the 1,800 potential single-cross hybrid combinations. The hybrids, their parents, and ten commercial wheat varieties were evaluated in multi-location field experiments for grain yield, plant height, heading time and susceptibility to frost, lodging, septoria tritici blotch, yellow rust, leaf rust, and powdery mildew at up to five locations. We observed that hybrids were superior to the mean of their parents for grain yield (10.7 %) and susceptibility to frost (?7.2 %), leaf rust (?8.4 %) and septoria tritici blotch (?9.3 %). Moreover, 69 hybrids significantly (P < 0.05) outyielded the best commercial inbred line variety underlining the potential of hybrid wheat breeding. The estimated quantitative genetic parameters suggest that the establishment of reciprocal recurrent selection programs is pivotal for a successful long-term hybrid wheat breeding.     

Genotyping-by-sequencing highlights original diversity patterns within a European collection of 1191 maize flint lines,as compared to the maize USDA genebank

Key message

Genotyping by sequencing is suitable for analysis of global diversity in maize. We showed the distinctiveness of flint maize inbred lines of interest to enrich the diversity of breeding programs.

Abstract

Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) is a highly cost-effective procedure that permits the analysis of large collections of inbred lines. We used it to characterize diversity in 1191 maize flint inbred lines from the INRA collection, the European Cornfed association panel, and lines recently derived from landraces. We analyzed the properties of GBS data obtained with different imputation methods, through comparison with a 50 K SNP array. We identified seven ancestral groups within the Flint collection (dent, Northern flint, Italy, Pyrenees–Galicia, Argentina, Lacaune, Popcorn) in agreement with breeding knowledge. Analysis highlighted many crosses between different origins and the improvement of flint germplasm with dent germplasm. We performed association studies on different agronomic traits, revealing SNPs associated with cob color, kernel color, and male flowering time variation. We compared the diversity of both our collection and the USDA collection which has been previously analyzed by GBS. The population structure of the 4001 inbred lines confirmed the influence of the historical inbred lines (B73, A632, Oh43, Mo17, W182E, PH207, and Wf9) within the dent group. It showed distinctly different tropical and popcorn groups, a sweet-Northern flint group and a flint group sub-structured in Italian and European flint (Pyrenees–Galicia and Lacaune) groups. Interestingly, we identified several selective sweeps between dent, flint, and tropical inbred lines that co-localized with SNPs associated with flowering time variation. The joint analysis of collections by GBS offers opportunities for a global diversity analysis of maize inbred lines.

     

SSR analysis of genetic diversity among maize inbred lines adapted to cold regions of Japan

Information regarding diversity and relationships among breeding material is necessary for hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) breeding. Simple-sequence repeat (SSR) analysis of the 60 loci distributed uniformly throughout the maize genome was carried out for 65 inbred lines adapted to cold regions of Japan in order to assess genetic diversity among the inbred lines and to assign them to heterotic groups. The mean value (0.69) of the polymorphic-index content (PIC) for the SSR loci provided sufficient discrimination-ability for the assessment of genetic diversity among the inbred lines. The correlation between the genetic-similarity (GS) estimates and the coancestry coefficient was significant (r = 0.70). The average-linkage (UPGMA) cluster analysis and principal-coordinate analysis (PCOA) for a matrix of the GS estimates showed that the Northern flint inbred lines bred in Japan were similar to a Canadian Northern flint inbred line CO12 and a European flint inbred line F283, and that dent inbred lines bred in Japan were similar to BSSS inbred lines such as B73. These associations correspond to the known pedigree records of these inbred lines. The results indicate that SSR analysis is effective for the assessment of genetic diversity among maize inbred lines and for the assignment of inbred lines to heterotic groups.     

Can spelt wheat be used as heterotic group for hybrid wheat breeding?

Key message

Spelt wheat is a distinct genetic group to elite bread wheat, but heterosis for yield and protein quality is too low for spelt to be recommended as heterotic group for hybrid breeding in wheat.

Abstract

The feasibility to switch from line to hybrid breeding is currently a hot topic in the wheat community. One limitation seems to be the lack of divergent heterotic groups within wheat adapted to a certain region. Spelt wheat is a hexaploid wheat that can easily be crossed with bread wheat and that forms a divergent genetic group when compared to elite bread wheat. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of Central European spelt as a heterotic group for Central European bread wheat. We performed two large experimental field studies comprising in total 43 spelt lines, 14 wheat lines, and 273 wheat–spelt hybrids, and determined yield, heading time, plant height, resistance against yellow rust, leaf rust, and powdery mildew, as well as protein content and sedimentation volume. Heterosis of yield was found to be lower than that of hybrids made between elite wheat lines. Moreover, heterosis of the quality trait sedimentation volume was negative. Consequently, spelt wheat does not appear suited to be used as heterotic group in hybrid wheat breeding. Nevertheless, high combining abilities of a few spelt lines with elite bread wheat lines make them interesting resources for pre-breeding in bread wheat. Thereby, the low correlation between line per se performance and combining ability of these spelt lines shows the potential to unravel the breeding value of genetic resources by crossing them to an elite tester.

     

Sequence Polymorphism Characteristics in the See2β Gene from Maize Key Inbred Lines and Derived Lines in China

Research on the sequence polymorphism characteristics of key genes is important in the early identification of maize inbred lines. The See2β gene functions in remobilizing leaf nitrogen and exporting it to developing grain during foliar senescence. We analyzed See2β sequences from 49 inbred lines representing four key lines and their derivatives: Huangzaosi, Mo17, Dan340, and Ye478. We found that the See2β gene had one insertion and two deletions in most Huangzaosi lines and three insertions in the Mo17 group; that the Huangzaosi, Dan340, and Ye478 lines, but not the Mo17 line, had unique indels; and that the See2β gene in lines derived from the same key inbred line had higher sequence homology, according to phenetic analysis of the inbred lines derived from Huangzaosi and Mo17. Thus, a candidate inbred line could be preliminarily identified using markers closely linked to the See2β gene combined with sequence alignment of See2β.     

吉林省部分玉米种质资源抗玉米弯孢菌叶斑病鉴定研究

玉米弯孢菌叶斑病主要是由弯孢菌（Curvularia lunata）引起的侵染性病害。近年来,该病害在我国玉米主产区发生面积逐年扩大,已成为玉米重要病害之一。本文研究了吉林省主要玉米杂交种和自交系抗病性差异,结果表明：玉米杂交种间以及自交系间抗病性差异明显;吉63、黄早4、自330、丹9046、丹9041、铁7922、掖478、沈5003、丹340和E28等一批应用多年的种质资源均为感病类型（MS-HS）;而新选育的各类群一些种质和具有热带、亚热带血缘的78599等一些外来种质资源均为抗病类型（R～HR）。杂交种的抗病性与双亲的抗病性有密切关系;玉米杂交种苗期较抗病,抽丝期极为感病,这表明杂交种抗性随植株生长而递减。     

Dissecting the genetic architecture of waterlogging stress-related traits uncovers a key waterlogging tolerance gene in maize

Key message

A key candidate gene, GRMZM2G110141, which could be used in marker-assisted selection in maize breeding programs, was detected among the 16 genetic loci associated with waterlogging tolerance identified through genome-wide association study.

Abstract

Waterlogging stress seriously affects the growth and development of upland crops such as maize (Zea mays L.). However, the genetic basis of waterlogging tolerance in crop plants is largely unknown. Here, we identified genetic loci for waterlogging tolerance-related traits by conducting a genome-wide association study using maize phenotypes evaluated in the greenhouse under waterlogging stress and normal conditions. A total of 110 trait-single nucleotide polymorphism associations spanning 16 genomic regions were identified; single associations explained 2.88–10.67% of the phenotypic variance. Among the genomic regions identified, 14 co-localized with previously detected waterlogging tolerance-related quantitative trail loci. Furthermore, 33 candidate genes involved in a wide range of stress-response pathways were predicted. We resequenced a key candidate gene (GRMZM2G110141) in 138 randomly selected inbred lines and found that variations in the 5?-UTR and in the mRNA abundance of this gene under waterlogging conditions were significantly associated with leaf injury. Furthermore, we detected favorable alleles of this gene and validated the favorable alleles in two different recombinant inbred line populations. These alleles enhanced waterlogging tolerance in segregating populations, strongly suggesting that GRMZM2G110141 is a key waterlogging tolerance gene. The set of waterlogging tolerance-related genomic regions and associated markers identified here could be valuable for isolating waterlogging tolerance genes and improving this trait in maize.

     

Genetic diversity near the <Emphasis Type="Italic">DGAT1-2</Emphasis> gene for high oleic acid content and kernel trait variation in a maize breeding collection

Previous studies in maize have identified three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) coding for high oleic acid content (HOAC) (QTLs oleic6-1, oleic6-2, and oleic6-3) at bins 6.04–6.05, proximal to the DGAT1-2 gene. The aims of this work were (i) to discover new markers for linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype analysis distal to DGAT1-2, (ii) to develop a new DGAT1-2 PCR probe to detect the allele determining HOAC (F469 insertion), (iii) to conduct cluster analysis for kernel traits, and (iv) to assess genetic diversity, LD, and association analysis for kernel traits with the DGAT1-2 PCR probe and 13 markers previously mapped near DGAT1-2 in the Argentine temperate maize collection of 111 inbred lines. The results showed high haplotype diversity distal to DGAT1-2 and relatedness between the inbred line LP199 (with HOAC) and the Non-Stiff Stalk line W22 (reference genome). The frequency of F469 was low (20%). F469 was clustered with flint-grain type characteristics, whereas HOAC was associated with F469 across linear models. Genetic diversity at bins 6.04–6.05 was high (0.62), whereas LD extent was low (r²?≤?0.45). This low extent of LD indicates a high level of recombination and no LD between DGAT1-2 and markers flanking QTLs oleic6-1 to 3. Nevertheless, the significant LD between markers flanking those QTLs and the cosegregation of F469 with nc009 (markers flanking QTLs oleic6-1 and 2) during inbred line conversion suggest that these QTLs might contribute to HOAC in the breeding collection. However, further studies are needed to precise mapping at bins 6.04–6.05 for breeding purposes.