Abstract
Canopy architecture improvements are a major focus in modern maize (Zea mays L.) breeding because appropriate canopy architecture could allow for the adaptation to high-density planting and high utilisation efficiency of solar energy. Therefore, understanding the genetic basis of canopy architecture-related traits is important for maize breeding. In this study, an F2:3 population derived from a cross between R08 (representing a breeding pattern of lower planting density with large ears breeding pattern) × Ye478 (representing a breeding pattern of high planting density) was evaluated for nine canopy architecture-related traits in six environments, including Nanning, Ya’an, and Jinghong, in 2012 and 2013. Mixed linear model-based composite interval mapping was used to dissect the genetic basis of canopy architecture-related traits. Sixty-five quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified for all nine traits through a joint analysis across all environments. More than 80 % of the QTL in this study did not show significant QTL × environment interactions, but epistasis played an important role in architecture-related trait inheritance. Nine chromosome segments were identified that affected multiple canopy architecture-related traits.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by Grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2011CB100106). We thank Dr. Richard G. F. Visser and two anonymous reviewers for valuable suggestions and careful corrections. We also thank the help of Drs. Z. H. Zhang, K. Zhou and C. Xia for revision.
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X. Hou and Y. Liu have contributed equally to this work.
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Hou, X., Liu, Y., Xiao, Q. et al. Genetic analysis for canopy architecture in an F2:3 population derived from two-type foundation parents across multi-environments. Euphytica 205, 421–440 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-015-1401-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-015-1401-8