ZmGA3ox2, a candidate gene for a major QTL,qPH3.1, for plant height in maize

• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12038
• Publication Date: 2012-09-30T13:31:29Z
• Authors: Feng Teng; Lihong Zhai; Ruixiang Liu; Wei Bai; Liqiu Wang; Dongao Huo; Yongsheng Tao; Yonglian Zheng; Zuxin Zhang
• Keywords: Plant stem; Candidate gene; Doubled haploidy

Maize plant height is closely associated with biomass, lodging resistance and grain yield. Determining the genetic basis of by characterizing cloning genes will guide improvement crops. In this study, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for height, qPH3.1, was identified on chromosome 3 using populations derived from cross between Zong3 its segment substitution line, SL15. The two lines obviously different, application exogenous gibberellin A(3) removed difference. QTL mapping placed qPH3.1 within 4.0 cM interval, explaining 32.3% phenotypic variance. Furthermore, eight homozygous segmental isolines (SILs) developed larger F(2) further narrowed down to 12.6 kb interval. ZmGA3ox2, an ortholog OsGA3ox2, which encodes GA3 β-hydroxylase, positionally cloned. Association polymorphisms in ZmGA3ox2 that were significantly across experiments. Quantitative RT-PCR showed SL15 had higher expression relative Zong3. resultant GA(1) accumulation led longer internodes because increased cell lengths. Moreover, large deletion coding region responsible dwarf mutant d1-6016. successfully isolated enriches our knowledge maize, provides opportunity architecture maize breeding.