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QTLs for early vigor of tropical maize

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Abstract

A strong photosynthetic performance and rapid leaf development, are important indicators of vigorous early growth. The aim of this study was to (1) evaluate the tropical maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines CML444 and SC-Malawi for their photosynthetic performance at different growth stages and (2) assess quantitative trait loci (QTL) of photosynthesis-related traits in their 236 recombinant inbred lines at the heterotrophic growth stage. CML444 had a higher leaf chlorophyll (SPAD) content than SC-Malawi. Ten QTLs were found for the quantum efficiency of photosystem II (ΦPSII; four), SPAD (three) and the specific leaf area (SLA; three). The relevance of seedling QTLs for ΦPSII, SPAD and SLA for yield formation is emphasized by seven collocations (bins 5.01, 7.03, 8.05) with QTLs for kernel number and grain yield under field conditions. QTLs for SPAD at the V2 and at the reproductive stage did not collocate, indicating differences in the genetic control of SPAD at different growth stages. Knowing which loci affect SLA, SPAD and ΦPSII simultaneously and which do not will help to optimize light harvest by the canopy.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Yunbi Xu for supplying the mapping population, Susanne Hochmann and David Brändli for technical assistance and Jann Röder for programming the scanning software.

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  1. Institute of Plant Science, ETH Zurich, Universitaetstr. 2, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    S. Trachsel, R. Messmer, P. Stamp, N. Ruta & A. Hund

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  1. S. Trachsel
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  2. R. Messmer
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  3. P. Stamp
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  4. N. Ruta
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  5. A. Hund
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Correspondence to S. Trachsel.

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Trachsel, S., Messmer, R., Stamp, P. et al. QTLs for early vigor of tropical maize. Mol Breeding 25, 91–103 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-009-9310-y

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