Background: Stigma exsertion rate (SER) is a key determinant for the outcrossing ability of male sterility lines (MSLs) in hybrid rice seed production. In the process of domestication, the outcrossing ability of cultivated rice varieties decreased, while that of wild Oryza species kept strong. Here, we detected the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling SER using a set of single-segment substitution lines (SSSLs) derived from O. glumaepatula , a wild Oryza species. Results: Seven QTLs for SER were located on 5 chromosomes. qSER-1a and qSER-1b were located on chromosome 1. qSER-3a and qSER-3b were mapped on chromosome 3, and qSER-3b was further located at an estimated interval of 898.8kb by secondary substitution mapping. qSER-5 , qSER-9 and qSER-10 were identified on chromosomes 5, 9 and 10, respectively, and qSER-9 was delimited to an estimated region of 551.9kb by secondary substitution mapping. The additive effects of the 7 QTLs ranged from 10.6% to 14.8%, which were higher than those of most loci for SER reported previously. Conclusions: qSER-1a and qSER-1b are novel loci for SER on chromosome 1. All of the 7 QTLs have major effects on SER. The major QTLs of SER will help to develop MSLs with strong outcrossing ability.

Background: Stigma exsertion rate (SER) is a key determinant for outcrossing ability of male sterility lines (MSLs) in hybrid rice seed production. Outcrossing ability in cultivated rice varieties has diminished during the process of domestication, while wild Oryza species keep strong outcrossing ability. Here, we detected the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling SER using a set of singlesegment substitution lines (SSSLs) derived from O. glumaepatula, a wild Oryza species.Results: Seven QTLs for SER, and qSER-10, were located on 5 chromosomes. qSER-1a and qSER-1b were located on chromosome 1. qSER-3a and qSER-3b were mapped on chromosome 3, and qSER-3b was further located at an interval of 931.0kb by secondary substitution mapping. qSER-5, qSER-9 and qSER-10 were identified on chromosomes 5, 9 and 10, respectively, and qSER-9 was delimited to a region of 608.2kb by secondary substitution mapping. The additive effects of the 7 QTLs ranged from 10.6% to 14.8%, and the additive contribution variances explained by each of the QTLs were from 36.3% to 50.6%, which were higher than those of most loci for SER reported previously.Conclusions: qSER-1a and qSER-1b were novel loci for SER on chromosome 1. All of the 7 QTLs had major effects on SER. The major QTLs of SER will help to develop MSLs with strong outcrossing ability.