Research Center of Biology and Agriculture, Shunde Innovation School, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
Beijing Engineering Laboratory of Main Crop Bio-Tech Breeding, Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Bio-Tech Breeding, Zhongzhi International Institute of Agricultural Biosciences, Beijing 100192, China.
Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jan 5;24(2):1025. doi: 10.3390/ijms24021025.
Grain yield is the most critical and complex quantitative trait in maize. Kernel length (KL), kernel width (KW), kernel thickness (KT) and hundred-kernel weight (HKW) associated with kernel size are essential components of yield-related traits in maize. With the extensive use of quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses, thousands of QTLs and quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) have been discovered for controlling these traits. However, only some of them have been cloned and successfully utilized in breeding programs. In this study, we exhaustively collected reported genes, QTLs and QTNs associated with the four traits, performed cluster identification of QTLs and QTNs, then combined QTL and QTN clusters to detect consensus hotspot regions. In total, 31 hotspots were identified for kernel size-related traits. Their candidate genes were predicted to be related to well-known pathways regulating the kernel developmental process. The identified hotspots can be further explored for fine mapping and candidate gene validation. Finally, we provided a strategy for high yield and quality maize. This study will not only facilitate causal genes cloning, but also guide the breeding practice for maize.
产量是玉米最重要、最复杂的数量性状。与籽粒大小相关的性状包括粒长（KL）、粒宽（KW）、粒厚（KT）和百粒重（HKW），它们是产量相关性状的重要组成部分。随着数量性状位点（QTL）作图和全基因组关联研究（GWAS）分析的广泛应用，已经发现了数千个控制这些性状的 QTL 和数量性状核苷酸（QTN）。然而，其中只有一些已经被克隆并成功应用于育种计划。在这项研究中，我们详尽地收集了与这四个性状相关的已报道的基因、QTL 和 QTN，对 QTL 和 QTN 簇进行了聚类识别，然后将 QTL 和 QTN 簇进行了组合，以检测共识热点区域。总共鉴定到 31 个与籽粒大小相关性状的热点区域。它们的候选基因被预测与调控籽粒发育过程的知名途径有关。这些鉴定出的热点区域可进一步进行精细定位和候选基因验证。最后，我们提供了一个提高玉米产量和品质的策略。这项研究不仅将促进因果基因的克隆，还将指导玉米的育种实践。
