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QTL mapping for salt tolerance based on snp markers at the seedling stage in maize (Zea mays L.)

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Abstract

Salinity is a major constraint to the sustainability and expansion of maize cultivation. Plant salt tolerance is a quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes. In the present study, we constructed a high density genetic map based on high quality SNP markers from 161 F2:5 recombinant inbred line populations derived from the cross between two maize inbred lines contrasting in salinity tolerance. QTL analysis was conducted in saline field and the hydroponic culture. For saline field, field germination rate and field salt tolerance ranking were used as salinity tolerance indicators to conduct QTL detection. For hydroponic culture, salt tolerance ranking, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, tissue water content, shoot Na+ concentration, shoot K+ concentration, and shoot K+/Na+ ratio were used. Through unconditional QTL analysis, we detected 20 additive and nine epistatic QTLs, of which 12 and two showed significant QTL by treatment (Q × T) interaction effects, respectively. Moreover, the use of conditional analysis model allowed us to detect nine conditional QTLs. The QTLs were mainly clustered on chromosomes 1, 3 and 5. The five unconditional and three conditional QTLs reported here could individually explain more than 20 % of the phenotypic variation. The QTLs identified here could be helpful to improve salt tolerance in maize by marker-assisted selection and shed new light on understanding the genetic basis of salt tolerance in maize.

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Abbreviations

RIL:

Recombinant inbred line

FGR:

Field germination rate

FSTR:

Field salt tolerance ranking

STR:

Salt tolerance ranking

SFW:

Shoot fresh weight

SDW:

Shoot dry weight

TWC:

Tissue water content

SNC:

Shoot Na+ concentration

SKC:

Shoot K+ concentration

SKN:

Shoot K+/Na+ ratio

Q × T :

QTL by treatment interaction effects

MAS:

Marker-assisted selection

N:

Normal treatment

S:

160 mM NaCl treatment

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the China National Science Foundation (Grant No. 31201214) and the National Sci-Tech Support program (Grant No.2013BAD05B01) for providing funds for carrying out this research work. We are very grateful to Dr. Jiping Zhao, Manager-Developmental Biology, Ball Horticultural Company, United States, for thorough English editing of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The State Key Lab of Crop Biology, College of Agriculture, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, China

    Dezhou Cui, Chunyan Xu, Song Li & Peng Li

  2. School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China

    Dandan Wu

  3. The State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Yamuna Somarathna, Hua Zhang, Huabang Chen & Li Zhao

Authors
  1. Dezhou Cui
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  2. Dandan Wu
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  3. Yamuna Somarathna
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  4. Chunyan Xu
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  5. Song Li
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  6. Peng Li
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  7. Hua Zhang
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  8. Huabang Chen
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  9. Li Zhao
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Huabang Chen or Li Zhao.

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Dezhou Cui and Dandan Wu contributed equally to this work.

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Cui, D., Wu, D., Somarathna, Y. et al. QTL mapping for salt tolerance based on snp markers at the seedling stage in maize (Zea mays L.). Euphytica 203, 273–283 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-014-1250-x

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