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Validation and characterization of a major QTL affecting leaf ABA concentration in maize

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Abstract

A previous study conducted on a maize (Zea mays L.) mapping population derived from Os420 × IABO78 identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for leaf-abscisic acid concentration (L-ABA) on chromosome 2 (bin 2.04). In order to validate this QTL, we analyzed with RFLP markers 16 F4 lines obtained by divergent selection for L-ABA from the same source. Three RFLPs mapping near bin 2.04 showed skewed allelic frequencies; the L-ABA increasing allele (+) was more frequent within the eight lines selected for high L-ABA, while the decreasing allele (−) was more frequent within the eight lines selected for low L-ABA. To characterize more accurately the direct and associated effects of this QTL, near-isogenic lines were developed by molecular marker-assisted back-crossing; four backcross-derived lines were homozygous (+/+) at the QTL and four were (−/−). A pair of near-isogenic hybrids (+/+) and (−/−) at the QTL were also produced. These materials were field tested under water-stressed and well-watered conditions. Across water regimes, the four (+/+) lines averaged a significantly higher mean value than the four (−/−) lines for L-ABA (494 vs. 396 ng ABA g−1 DW) and a significantly lower mean value for relative water content (90.6 vs. 92.0%). The (+/+) hybrid exceeded the (−/−) for L-ABA (476 vs. 325 ng  g−1 DW) and was less affected by root lodging (44.6 vs. 66.1%). Our results validate the presence of a major QTL for L-ABA on bin 2.04 and indicate that the QTL also affects root traits and relative water content.

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Abbreviations

ASI:

anthesis-silking interval

BDL:

backcross-derived line

L-ABA:

leaf abscisic acid concentration

MAB:

marker-assisted backcross

NIH:

near-isogenic hybrid

QTL:

quantitative trait locus

RFLP:

restriction fragment length polymorphism

RWC:

relative water content

SSR:

simple sequence repeat

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  1. Department of Agroenvironmental Science and Technology, Viale G. Fanin 44, 40127, Bologna, BO, Italy

    Pierangelo Landi, Maria C. Sanguineti, Silvio Salvi, Silvia Giuliani, Massimo Bellotti, Marco Maccaferri, Sergio Conti & Roberto Tuberosa

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  1. Pierangelo Landi
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  2. Maria C. Sanguineti
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  3. Silvio Salvi
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  4. Silvia Giuliani
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  5. Massimo Bellotti
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  6. Marco Maccaferri
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  7. Sergio Conti
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  8. Roberto Tuberosa
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Correspondence to Pierangelo Landi.

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Landi, P., Sanguineti, M.C., Salvi, S. et al. Validation and characterization of a major QTL affecting leaf ABA concentration in maize. Mol Breeding 15, 291–303 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-004-7604-7

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