Mining of Candidate Maize Genes for Nitrogen Use Efficiency by Integrating Gene Expression and QTL Data |
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Authors: | Ruixiang Liu Hao Zhang Pu Zhao Zuxin Zhang Wenke Liang Zhigang Tian Yonglian Zheng |
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Affiliation: | (1) College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, 071001, China;(2) National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China;(3) China Cotton Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang, 455004, China;(4) Xingtai Institute of Agricultural Science, Xingtai, 054000, China; |
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Abstract: | Breeding maize varieties for high nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) by marker-assisted selection using NUE quantitative trait locus (QTL) or by genetic transfer of NUE-associated genes is a viable approach for increasing grain yield in N-limited production areas. In this investigation, we evaluated a set of introgression line populations under N supply and N deficiency conditions. From 42 QTLs for grain yield and yield components, 23 were identified under N supply conditions and 33 from N limited conditions. Meta-analysis of published maize NUE QTLs revealed 37 “consensus” QTLs, of which, 18 was detected under low N conditions. In addition, 258 unique ESTs associated with low N stress response, N uptake, transport, and assimilation were aligned on the maize genome by in silico mapping. Integrating the EST map with the QTL map has resulted in the identification of candidate NUE-associated genes of the following functional categories: N uptake, transport, and assimilation; carbon (C) metabolism and assimilation; and cascades of stress response and signal transduction genes. Nine candidates that have been introgressed into Ye478 significantly altered grain yield/yield components. It is suggested that the dynamics of interactions between C and N metabolism are important for maize yield. A high NUE variety should have a highly efficient C assimilation per unit N and actively express CO2 assimilation-related genes under N-limited conditions. |
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