Identification of QTL for zinc and iron concentration in maize kernel and cob

Comprehensive phenotypic analysis and quantitative trait locus identification for grain mineral concentration, content, and yield in maize (Zea mays L.)

“…In this work, four environments with two locations × two years were applied to test the environmental effects on mineral accumulation in maize grain. The ANOVA showed significant (P < 0.01) effects for both year and location (Table 3) for all investigated mineral concentrations, contents and yields, in agreement with previous studies (Qin et al 2012;Baxter et al 2013).…”

“…Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping is a powerful approach to study and manipulate complex traits important in agriculture (Abiola et al 2003). A wide range of genetic variation for grain mineral accumulation has been revealed among maize accessions, suggesting that traits of mineral accumulation are complex quantitative traits (Šimic et al 2012;Qin et al 2012;Baxter et al 2013). Therefore, QTL analysis could greatly accelerate genetic modification of mineral amount in maize grain by marker-assisted selection (MAS) and even discovery of underlying candidate genes.…”

“…Several QTL studies have been conducted in maize for grain mineral concentration (Garcia-Oliveira et al 2009;Zhou et al 2010;Lung'aho et al 2011;Qin et al 2012;Šimic et al 2012;Baxter et al 2013Baxter et al , 2014. Stable or consistent QTL across different environments could only be identified in some of these above studies.…”

“…For example, Baxter et al (2013) identified 27 QTL for 9 mineral concentrations with most expressed in at least two of the six investigated environments. For micro-minerals, Lung'aho et al (2011) identified 3 QTL for Fe concentration across three environments and Qin et al (2012) identified 3 QTL for Fe and Zn concentrations across two environments. For macro-minerals, Šimic et al (2012) identified a major QTL for phosphorus (P) concentration across four environments.…”

Genetic Variation for Biofortifying The Maize Grain

“…This could be possibly due to linkage between the genes affecting the accumulations or pleotropic effects of the genes governing the accumulation of micronutrients and the existence of one or more common genetic-physiological mechanisms involved in mineral absorption or uptake by the root system, translocation and redistribution within the plant tissues, remobilization to the grain, or accumulation in the developing grain (Çakmak, 2008;Peleg et al, 2008;Chatvaz et al, 2010). Positive correlation was observed between kernel Fe and Znc contents by Qin et al (2012), and it might be due to the colocalization of QTLs for both the traits which was also reported in the review of Gupta et al, (2015), there by suggesting the feasibility of simultaneous improvement of the both. Negative correlation of protein content with starch and oil contents showed that which trait should be selected in the breeding program.…”