Beyond pathways: genetic dissection of tocopherol content in maize kernels by combining linkage and association analyses

• DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12889
• Publication Date: 2018-01-22T14:58:05Z
• Authors: Hong Wang; Shutu Xu; Yaming Fan; Nannan Liu; Wei Zhan; Haijun Liu; Yingjie Xiao; Kun Li; Qingchun Pan; Wenqiang Li; Min Deng; Jie Liu; Min Jin; Xiaohong Yang; Jiansheng Li; Qing Li; Jianbing Yan
• Keywords: Linkage (software); Genetic Association; Association (psychology); Genetic linkage

Although tocopherols play an important role in plants and animals, the genetic architecture of tocopherol content maize kernels has remained largely unknown. In this study, linkage association analyses were conducted to examine kernels. Forty-one unique quantitative trait loci (QTLs) identified by mapping six populations recombinant inbred lines (RILs). addition, 32 significant detected via genome-wide study (GWAS), 18 which colocalized with QTLs mapping. Fine a major QTL validated accuracy GWAS results suggested for nontocopherol pathway genes modulation natural variation. We provided evidence that involved fatty acid metabolism, chlorophyll metabolism chloroplast function may affect variation tocopherols. These findings confirmed through mutant analysis particular gene from pathway. favourable alleles many SNPs/QTLs represented rare populations. Together, our revealed novel are potentially Pyramiding newly elucidated well-known would greatly improve maize.