Genetic analysis and molecular mapping of a novel gene for zebra mutation in rice （Oryza sativa L.）

A novel zebra mutant, zebra-15, derived from the restorer line JinhuilO （Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica） treated by EMS, displayed a distinctive zebra leaf from seedling stage to jointing stage. Its chlorophyll content decreased （55.4%） and the ratio of Chla/Chlb increased （90.2%） significantly in the yellow part of the zebra-15, compared with the wild type. Net photosynthetic rate and fluorescence kinetic parameters showed that the decrease of chlorophyll content significantly influenced the photosynthetic efficiency of the mutant. Genetic analysis of F2 segregation populations derived from the cross of XinonglA and zebra-15 indicated that the zebra leaf trait is controlled by a single recessive nuclear gene. Ninety-eight out of four hundred and eighty pairs of SSR markers showed the diversity between the XinonglA and the zebra-15, their F2 population was then used for gene mapping. Zebra-15 （Z-15） gene was primarily restricted on the short arm of chromosome 5 by 150 F2 recessive individuals, 19.6 cM from marker RM3322 and 6.0 cM from marker RM6082. Thirty-six SSR markers were newly designed in the restricted location, and the Z-15 was finally located between markers nSSR516 and nSSR502 with the physical region 258 kb by using 1,054 F2 recessive individuals.     

Novel pleiotropic loci controlling panicle architecture across environments in japonica rice （Oryza sativa L.）

To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling panicle architecture in japonica rice, a genetic map was constructed based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and 254 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between cultivars Xiushui 79 and C Bao. Seven panicle traits were investigated under three environments. Single marker analysis indicated that a total of 27 SSR markers were highly associated with panicle traits in all the three environments. Percentage of phenotypic variation explained by single locus varied from 2% to 35%. Based on the mixed linear model, a total of 40 additive QTLs for seven panicle traits were detected by composite interval mapping, explaining 1.2%-35% of phenotypic variation. Among the 9 QTLs with more than 10% of explained phenotypic variation, two QTLs were for the number of primary branches per panicle (NPB), two for panicle length (PL), two for spikelet density (SD), one for the number of secondary branches per panicle (NSB), one for secondary branch distribution density (SBD), and one for the number of spikelets per panicle (NS), respectively. qPLSD-9-1 and qPLSD-9-2 were novel pleiotropic loci, showing effects on PL and SD simultaneously. qPLSD-9-1 explained 34.7% of the phenotypic variation for PL and 25.4% of the phenotypic variation for SD, respec- tively. qPLSD-9-2 explained 34.9% and 24.4% of the phenotypic variation for PL and SD, respectively. The C Bao alleles at the both QTLs showed positive effects on PL, and the Xiushui 79 alleles at the both QTLs showed positive effects on SD. Genetic variation of panicle traits are mainly attributed to additive effects. QTL × environment interactions were not significant for additive QTLs and additive × additive QTL pairs.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with small brown planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus Fallén) resistance in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

F(2) and BC(1) populations derived from the cross between 02428 / Rathu Heenati were used to investigate small brown planthopper (SBPH) resistance. Using the F(2) population, three QTLs for antixenosis against SBPH were located on chromosomes 2, 5 and 6, and accounted for 30.75% of the phenotypic variance; three QTLs for antibiosis against SBPH were detected on chromosomes 8, 9 and 12. qSBPH5-c explaining 7.21% of phenotypic variance for antibiosis was identified on chromosome 5 using the BC(1) population. A major QTL, qSBPH12-a1, explained about 40% of the phenotypic variance, and a minor QTL, qSBPH4-a, was detected by the SSST method in both the F(2) and BC(1) populations. The QTLs indentified in the present study will be useful for marker assisted selection of SBPH resistance in rice.     

Analysis of QTLs for yield-related traits in Yuanjiang common wild rice （Oryza rufipogon Griff.）

Using an accession of common wild rice(Oryza rufipogon Griff.)collected from Yunnjiang County,Yunnan Province,China,as the donor and an elite cnltivar 93-11,widely used in two-line indica hybrid rice production in China,as the recurrent parent,an advanced backcross populations were developed.Through genotyping of 187 SSR markers and investigation of six yield-related traits of two generations(BC4F2 and BC4F4),a total of 26 QTLs were detected by employing single point analysis and interval mapping in both generations.Of the 26 QTLs,the alleles of 10(38.5%)QTLs originating from O.rufipogon had shown a beneficial effect for yield-related traits in the 93-11 genetic background.In addition,five QTLs controlling yield and its components were newly identified,indicating that there arc potentially novel alleles in Yuanjiang common wild rice.Three regions underling significant QTLs for several yield-related traits were detected on chromosome 1,7 and 12.The QTL clusters were founded and corresponding agronomic traits of those QTLs showed highly significant correlation,suggesting the pleiotropism or tight linkage.Fine-mapping and cloning of these yield-related QTLs from wild rice would be helpful to elucidating molecular mechanism of rice domestication and rice breeding in the future.     

Molecular evolution and functional divergence of HAK potassium transporter gene family in rice （Oryza sativa L.）

The high-affinity K＋ （HAK） transporter gene family is the largest family in plant that functions as potassium transporter and is important for various aspects of plant life. In the present study, we identified 27 members of this family in rice genome. The phylogenetic tree divided the land plant HAK transporter proteins into 6 distinct groups. Although the main characteristic of this family was established before the origin of seed plants, they also showed some differences between the members of non-seed and seed plants. The HAK genes in rice were found to have expanded in lineage-specific manner after the split of monocots and dicots, and both segmental duplication events and tandem duplication events contributed to the expansion of this family. Functional divergence analysis for this family provided statistical evidence for shifted evolutionary rate after gene duplication. Further analysis indicated that both point mutant with positive selection and gene conversion events contributed to the evolution of this family in rice.     

Discovery of quantitative trait loci for crossability from a synthetic wheat genotype

Crossability between wheat and rye is an important trait for wheat improvement.No quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected from wheat ancestors previously.The objectives of this study were to dissect the QTLs for crossability using 111 introgression lines (ILs) derived from synthetic hexaploid wheat.A total of 1275 SSR markers were screened for polymorphism between the two parents,and 552 markers of them displayed polymorphism,of which 64 were selected for genotyping the 111 BC5F6 ILs.Field trials were performed in a Latinized α-lattice design in Luoyang and Jiaozuo of Henan Province of China in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 cropping seasons.One-way ANOVA and interval mapping (IM) analysis were used to detect QTL for crossability between wheat and rye.A total of 13 putative QTLs were detected.Five of them,QCa.caas.1A,QCa.caas.2D,QCa.caas.4B,QCa.caas.5B and QCa.caas.6A,were detected in both trials and three of them,QCa.caas.2D,QCa.caas.4B and QCa.caas.6A,were novel.The positive effect allele of the four QTLs came from the donor parent Am3 except QCa.caas.6A that came from the recurrent parent Laizhou953.ILs with both higher positive effect alleles and favorable agronomic traits developed in present study are elite germplasm for wide crossing in wheat.Results from the current study suggest that wheat ancestors can be rich in new sources of crossability genes.     

Extent of heterosis in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under cold stress conditions — yield and its components

Summary The nature and extent of heterosis for grain yield and its component characters was estimated in a seven-parent F₁-diallel cross in rice under the cold stress conditions of Palampur, representing sub-temperate climate of the mid hills of Himachal Pradesh. The highest heterotic effects for grain yield were observed in Himalaya 1/Phul Patas 72 and China 988/Himdhan hybrids, which gave 60.36 and 32.48% heterosis, respectively, over mid parent, 38.76 and 26.86% heterosis, respectively, over high parent and 32.30 and 26.86% heterosis, respectively, over the best variety, Himdhan. Heterosis for grain yield in these crosses was due to an increase in tiller number, panicle length, spikelets/panicle and 1,000-grain weight. Large number of crosses exhibited significant heterosis for high spikelet sterility and the majority of them had significant heterosis for late flowering, taking more than 120 days to flower, which resulted in lack of heterosis for grain yield in such crosses due to cold stress at the reproductive stage.Part of the thesis submitted by the senior author to Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur (H.P.) India, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture     

Calcineurin B-like interacting protein kinase OsCIPK23 functions in pollination and drought stress responses in rice （Oryza sativa L.）

Droughtis very harmful to grain yield due to its adverse effect on reproduction,especially on pollination proeess in rice.However,the molecular basis of such an effect still remains largely unknown.Here,wereport the role of amember of CBL(Calcineurin B-Like)Interacting Protein Kinase(CIPK)family,OsCIPK23,in pollination and stress responses in dee.Molecular analyses revealed that it is mainly expressed in pistil and anther but up-regulated by pollination,as well as by treatments of various abiotic stresses and phytohormones.RNA interference-mediated suppression of OsCIPK23 expression significantly reduced seed set and conferred a hypersensitive response to drought stress,indicating its possible roles in pollination and drought stress.In consistent,overexpression of OsCIPK23 induced the expression of seVeral drought tolerance related genes.Taken together,these results indicate that OsCIPK23 is a multistress induced gene and likely mediatesa signaling pathway commonly shared by both pollination and drought stress responses in rice.     

Genetic analysis of tolerance to photo-oxidative stress induced by high light in winter wheat （Triticum aestivum L.）

High light induced photooxidation (HLIP) usually leads to leaf premature senescence and causes great yield loss in winter wheat. In order to explore the genetic control of wheat tolerance to HLIP stress, a quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis was conducted on a set of doubled haploid population, derived from two winter wheat cultivars. Actual values of chlorophyll content (Chl), minimum fluorescence level (Fo), maximum fluorescence level (Fm), and the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem Ⅱ (Fv/Fm) under both HLIP and non-stress conditions as well as the ratios of HLIP to non-stress were evaluated. HLIP considerably reduced Chl, Fm, and Fv/Fm, but increased Fo, compared with that under non-stress condition. A total of 27, 16, and 28 QTLs were associated with the investigated traits under HLIP and non-stress and the ratios of HLIP to non-stress, respectively. Most of the QTLs for the ratios of HLIP to non-stress collocated or nearly linked with those detected under HLIP condition. HLIP-induced QTLs were mapped on 15 chromosomes, involving in 1A, 1B, 1D,2A, 2B, 2D, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4D, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7D while those expressed under non-stress condition involved in nine chromosomes, including 1B, 1D, 2A, 2B, 3B, 4A, 5A, 5B, and 7A. The expression patterns of QTLs under HLIP condition were different from that under non-stress condition except for six loci on five chromosomes. The phenotypic variance explained by individual QTL ranged from 5.0% to 19.7% under HLIP, 8.3% to 20.8% under non-stress, and 4.9% to 20.2% for the ratios of HLIP to non-stress, respectively. Some markers, for example,Xgwm192 and WMC331 on 4D regulating Chl, Fo, Fm, and Fv/Fm under HLIP condition, might be used in marker assistant selection.     

Expression of PIN Genes in Rice （Oryza sativa L.）： Tissue Specificity and Regulation by Hormones

Twelve genes of the PIN family in rice were analyzed for gene and protein structures and an evolutionary relationship with reported AtPINs in Arabidopsis. Four members of PIN1 （designated as OsPINla-d）, one gene paired with AtPIN2 （OsPIN2）, three members of PIN5 （OsPIN5a-c）, one gene paired with AtPIN8 （OsPIN8）, and three monocot-specific PINs （OsPIN9, OsPINIOa, and b） were identified from the phylogenetic analysis. Tissue-specific expression patterns of nine PIN genes among them were investigated using RT-PCR and GUS reporter. The wide variations in the expression domain in different tissues of the PIN genes were observed. In general, PIN genes are up-regulated by exogenous auxin, while different responses of different PIN genes to other hormones were found.     

Retracted: Screening of candidate genes and fine mapping of drought tolerance quantitative trait loci on chromosome 4 in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under drought stress

Due to severe water resource shortage, genetics of and breeding for DT (drought tolerance) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) have become one of the hot research topics. Identification of grain yield QTLs (quantitative trait loci) directly related to the DT trait of rice can provide useful information for breeding new drought‐resistant and water‐saving rice varieties via marker‐assisted selection. A population of 105 advanced BILs (backcross introgression lines) derived from a cross between Zhenshan97B and IRAT109 in Zhenshan97B background were grown under drought stress in a field experiment and phenotypic traits were investigated. The results showed that in the target interval of RM273‐RM255 on chromosome 4, three main‐effect QTLs related to panicle length, panicle number, and spikelet number per panicle were identified (LOD [logarithm of the odds] > 2.0). The panicle length‐related QTL had two loci located in the neighboring intervals of RM17308‐RM17305 and RM17349‐RM17190, which explained 18.80% and 20.42%, respectively, of the phenotypic variation, while the panicle number‐related QTL was identified in the interval of RM1354‐RM17308, explaining 11.47% of the phenotypic variation. As far as the spikelet number per panicle‐related QTL was concerned, it was found to be located in the interval of RM17308‐RM17305, which explained 28.08% of the phenotypic variation. Using the online Plant‐GE query system, a total of 13 matched ESTs (expressed sequence tags) were found in the target region, and of the 13 ESTs, 12 had corresponding predicted genes. For instance, the two ESTs CB096766 and CA765747 were corresponded to the same predicted gene LOC_Os04g46370, while the other four ESTs, CA754286, CB000011, CX056247, and CX056240, were corresponded to the same predicted gene LOC_Os04g46390.     

Mapping quantitative trait loci associated with root penetration ability in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Root penetration ability is an important factor for rice drought resistance in areas with soils subject to both compaction and periodic water deficits. However, breeding for root penetration ability is inhibited by the difficulties associated with measuring root traits. Our objective was to identify restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) associated with root penetration ability. Using wax-petrolatum layers as a proxy for compacted soil, we counted the number of vertical root axes penetrating through the layer, the total number of vertical root axes and the number of tillers per plant of 202 recombinant inbred (RI) lines over three replications. As a measure of root penetration ability, we used a root penetration index defined as the percent of the total number of vertical root axes that penetrated through a wax-petrolatum layer. The RI population exhibited a wide range in the number of penetrating roots axes (10–115 roots), the total number of roots axes (74–226 roots), tillers per plant (6–18), and in the root penetration index (0.11–0.71). Single-marker and interval quantitative trait analyses were conducted to identify RFLP loci associated with the number of penetrating roots, total root number, root penetration index, and tiller number. Four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were associated with the number of penetrated roots, 19 with the total root number, six QTLs with the root penetration index and ten with tiller number. Individually, these QTLs accounted for a maximum of 8% of the variation in the number of penetrating roots, 19% of the variation in total root number, 13% of the variation in root penetration index and 14% of the variation in tiller number as estimated from regressions. The multimarker regression model accounting for the greatest proportion of the variation in the root penetration index was a three-marker model that accounted for 34% of the variation. Two-marker models accounted for 13% of the variation in the number of penetrated roots, 25% of the variation in total root number, and 21% of the variation in tiller number. This is the first research paper to apply RFLP quantitative trait analysis to dissect genetic loci associated with the total number of roots, root penetration ability and tiller number.Contribution from the Department of Plant and Soil Science, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. Journal Number T-4-385     

Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for heading date and plant height in cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Lemont and Teqing are both semidwarf rice varieties that differ in heading date by only 6 days. However, when Lemont and Teqing are crossed there is transgressive segregation for both heading date (HD) and plant height (PH). By testing 2418 F₄ lines with 113 well-distributed RFLP markers, we identified and mapped chromosomal regions that were largely responsible for this transgressive segregation. QHd3a, a QTL from Lemont that gives 8 days earlier heading, was identified on chromosome 3 approximately 3 cM from the marker RG348. Another QTL with a large effect, QHd8a, which gives 7 days earlier heading, was identified on chromosome 8 of Teqing between RG20 and RG1034. Along with a QTL, QHd9a with a phenotypic effect of 3.5 days, these genomic regions collectively explain 76.5% of the observed phenotypic variance in heading date. Four QTLs which altered plant height from 4 to 7 cm were also mapped; these collectively explain 48.8% of the observed phenotypic variation in plant height. None of the QTLs for plant height mapped to chromosome 1, the location of the semidwarf gene sd-1. All three of the HD loci mapped to approximately the same genomic locations as PH QTLs, and in all cases, there was a reduction in height of approximately 1 cm for every day of earlier heading. The correspondence between the HD and some of the PH loci suggests that genes at these chromosome locations may have pleiotropic effects on both HD and PH. The observed heterosis in the F₁ plants for HD can be largely explained by the dominance for earliness of the identified HD loci and distribution of earlier heading alleles in the parents. However, overdominance observed at one of the PH QTL may, at least in part, be responsible for the observed heterosis in PH.     

Analysis of quantitative trait loci which contribute to anther culturability in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Anther culturability of rice is significantly different between indica and japonica varieties. A doubled haploid (DH) population was established via anther culture of an indica/japonica hybrid on SK₃ medium, which had been shown particularly suitable for anther culture of indica/japonica hybrids. For analyzing the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for anther culturability, anthers of the DH lines were again cultured with SK₃ medium and parameters for four traits representing the anther culturability were surveyed and analyzed with the molecular map constructed from the same DH population. The parameters for four major traits were as follows: callus induction frequency (CI), green plantlet differentiation frequency (GPD), albino plantlet differentiation frequency (APD), and green plantlet yield frequency (GPY). All four traits displayed continuous distributions among the DH lines. The correlation coefficients between these traits were also tested and showed that there was no relationship between callus induction and green plantlet differentiation frequencies, but both showed strong positive correlation with the frequency of green plantlet yield. For callus induction frequency, five QTLs were identified on chromosomes 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12. Two QTLs for green plantlet differentiation frequency were located on chromosomes 1 and 9. There was a major QTL for albino plantlet differentiation frequency on chromosome 9. No independent QTL was found for green plantlet yield frequency. The results may be useful in the selection of parents with high response to anther culture for rice haploid breeding and in the establishment of permanent DH populations for molecular mapping.     

Population-specific quantitative trait loci mapping for functional stay-green trait in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The functional stay-green trait gives leaves a longer duration of greenness and photosynthetic capacity during the grain-filling period. We developed two independent recombinant inbred line populations from the intra- and intersubspecific crosses of Oryza sativa L. subsp. japonica 'Suweon490' (japonica) × O. sativa subsp. japonica 'SNU-SG1' (japonica) and O. sativa subsp. indica 'Andabyeo' (indica) × O. sativa subsp. japonica 'SNU-SG1' (japonica), respectively. The common parental line 'SNU-SG1' was the functional source for the stay-green trait. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping based on simple sequence repeat markers identified a total of six QTLs associated with two stay-green traits across two populations. The two traits were cumulative chlorophyll content (SPAD value) of flag leaf (CSFL) and total cumulative SPAD value of the four upper leaves (TCS). Four QTLs, tcs4, csfl6, csfl9 (or tcs9), and csfl12, located on chromosomes 4, 6, 9, and 12, respectively, were detected simultaneously in both populations. The remaining two QTLs, csfl2 (or tcs2) and tcs5, on chromosomes 2 and 5, respectively, were found to be population specific. Moreover, the functional stay-green trait of 'SNU-SG1' positively correlated with grain yield performance. Two yield QTLs, yld6 and yld9, on chromosomes 6 and 9 found in both populations were positioned at the same locations with the csfl6 and tcs9 QTLs for stay-green traits. Thus, the identified chromosomal regions can be promising targets of marker-assisted introgression of the functional stay-green trait into breeding materials for improvement of rice yield.     

Identification of a stable quantitative trait locus for percentage grains with white chalkiness in rice (Oryza sativa)

High chalkiness is a major problem in many rice-producing areas of the world, especially in hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) in China. We previously showed a major quantitative trait locus for the percentage of grains with white chalkiness (QTLqPGWC-8) in the interval G1149-R727 on chromosome 8 using a chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL). Here, we selected the line-CSSL50 harboring the QTLqPGWC-8 allele from the CSSLs derived from a cross between Asominori (as a recurrent parent) and IR24 (as a donor parent), which had higher percentage chalkiness, markedly different from that of Asominori. There were also significant differences in starch granules, appearance of amylose content (AAC) and milling qualities between Asominori and CSSL50, but not in grain size or thousand grain weight (TGW). The BC(4) F(2) and BC(4) F(3) populations from a cross between CSSL50 and Asominori were used for fine mapping of qPGWC-8. We narrowed down the location of this QTL to a 142 kb region between Indel markers 8G-7 and 8G-9. QTLqPGWC-8 accounted for 50.9% of the difference in PGWC between the parents. The markers tightly linked to qPGWC-8 should facilitate cloning of the gene underlying this QTL and will be of value for marker-assisted selection in breeding rice varieties with better grain quality.     

Mapping quantitative trait loci controlling seed longevity in rice ( Oryza sativa L.)

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling seed longevity in rice were identified using 98 backcross inbred lines (BILs) derived from a cross between a japonica variety Nipponbare and an indica variety Kasalath. Seeds of each BIL were kept for 12 months at 30 degrees C in dry conditions to promote loss of viability. To measure seed longevity, we performed an additional aging-processing treatment for 2 months at 30 degrees C maintaining seeds at 15% moisture content. We measured the germination percent of these treated seeds at 25 degrees C for 7 days as the degree of seed longevity. The germination of BILs ranged from 0 to 100% with continuous variation. Three putative QTLs for seed longevity, qLG-2, qLG-4 and qLG-9, were detected on chromosome 2, 4 and 9, respectively. Kasalath alleles increased the seed longevity at these QTLs. The QTL with the largest effect, qLG-9, explained 59.5% of total phenotypic variation in BILs. The other two QTLs, qLG-2 and qLG-4, explained 13.4 and 11.6% of the total phenotypic variation, respectively. We also verified the effect of the Kasalath allele of qLG-9 using chromosome segment substitution lines. Furthermore, QTLs for seed dormancy were identified on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11. Based on the comparison of the chromosomal location of QTLs for seed longevity and seed dormancy, these traits seem to be controlled by different genetic factors.     

Mapping quantitative trait loci controlling sheath blight resistance in two rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice sheath blight, caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, is one of the three major diseases of rice. The present study was conducted with an F₂ clonal population of Jasmine 85/Lemont. The F₂ population, including 128 clonal families, was inoculated by short toothpicks incubated with a strain, RH-9 of the fungus. Based on field disease evaluations in 2 years and a genetic map with 118 evenly distributed molecular markers, we identified six quantitative trait loci (QTLs) contributing to sheath blight resistance. These QTLs, qSB-2, qSB-3, qSB-7, qSB-9-1, qSB-9-2 and qSB-11, were located on chromosomes 2, 3, 7, 9 and 11, respectively. The respective alleles of qSB-2, qSB-3, qSB-7, and qSB-9-2 from Jasmine 85 could explain 21.2%, 26.5%, 22.2% and 10.1% of the total phenotypic variation, respectively; while the alleles of qSB-9-1 and qSB-11 from Lemont could explain 9.8% and 31.2% of the total phenotypic variation. Of these qSB-2 and qSB-11 could be detected in both years, while remaining loci were detected only in a single year. Furthermore, four QTLs (qHD-2, qHD-3, qHD-5 and qHD-7) controlling heading date and three QTLs (qPH-3, qPH-4 and qPH-11) controlling plant height were also identified. Though rice sheath blight resistance may be influenced by morphological traits, such as heading date and plant height, in the present study most detected resistance loci were not linked to the loci for heading date or plant height. Received: 1 September 1999 / Accepted: 24 January 2000     

Time-related mapping of quantitative trait loci controlling grain-filling in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Grain-filling is a crucial process that determines final grain yield in rice (Oryza sativa L.). To understand the genetic basis of dynamics of grain-filling, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was conducted using time-related phenotypic data on grain-filling collected from a population of 155 recombinant inbred lines (F12), derived from a cross between Milyang 23 and Akihikari. Two QTLs detected on chromosomes 8 and 12 were strongly associated with increased filling percentage per panicle. These QTLs were not linked with those controlling spikelet numbers per panicle. This result confers the possibility of improving grain-filling together with an enlargement of sink size. The QTL for filling percentage per panicle on chromosome 8 exactly overlapped that for non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) content in the culm and leaf sheaths during grain-filling, and the Milyang 23 allele associated with increased grain-filling percentage per panicle was associated with decreased NSC content. Therefore, this QTL may be directly involved in NSC translocation from the culm and leaf sheaths to panicle. In addition, the Milyang 23 alleles of QTLs associated with greater spikelet number per panicle on chromosomes 1 and 6 were also related with a reduction in NSC content in the culm and leaf sheaths during grain-filling. These results indicate that NSC dynamics during grain-filling is partly dependent on sink size. NSC accumulation in the culm and leaf sheaths at the heading stage was mainly controlled by different genetic regulations from NSC dynamics during grain-filling. Nitrogen dynamics during grain-filling may also be involved in carbohydrate dynamics.     

Mapping segregation distortion loci and quantitative trait loci for spikelet sterility in rice ( Oryza sativa L.)

Markers with segregation ratio distortion are commonly observed in data sets used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. In this study, a multipoint method of maximum likelihood (ML) was newly developed to estimate the positions and effects of the segregation distortion loci (SDLs) in two F2 populations of rice (Oryza sativa L.), i.e. Taichung65/Bhadua (TB; japonica-indica cross) and CPSLO17/W207-2 (CW; japonica-japonica). Of the four parents, W207-2 and Bhadua were found to be spikelet semi-sterile and stably inherited through selfing, and spikelet fertility segregated in the two populations. Therefore, recombination frequencies were recalculated after mapping the SDLs by using the multipoint method, and the molecular linkage maps of the two F2 populations were constructed to detect QTLs underlying spikelet fertility. As a result, five SDLs in the TB population were mapped on chromosomes 1, 3, 8 and 9, respectively. Two major QTLs underlying spikelet fertility, namely qSS-6a and qSS-8a, were detected on chromosomes 6 and 8, respectively. In the CW population, a total of 12 SDLs were detected on all 12 chromosomes except 1, 5, 7 and 11. Three QTLs underlying spikelet sterility, namely qSS-2, qSS-6b and qSS-8b on chromosomes 2, 6 and 8, were determined on the whole genome scale. Interestingly, both qSS-6a and qSS-6b, detected in the two F2 populations respectively, were located on a similar position as the S5 gene on chromosome 6; while qSS-8a and qSS-8b were also simultaneously detected on similar positions of the short arm of chromosome 8 in the two populations, which should be a new sterility gene showing the same type of zygotic selection.