Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci for Grain Yield and Other Traits in Tropical Maize Under High and Low Soil-Nitrogen Environments

Abstract

Low soil Nitrogen (low-N) is one of the most important abiotic stressors responsible for significant yield losses in maize (Zea mays L.). The development and commercialization of low-N-tolerant genotypes can contribute to improved food security in developing countries. However, selection for low-N tolerance is difficult because it is a complex trait with strong interaction between genotypes and environments. Marker-assisted breeding holds great promise for improving such complex traits more efficiently and in less time, but requires markers associated with the trait of interest. In this study, 150 BC2F1 families of CML 444 × CML 494 were evaluated at two locations for two consecutive seasons to identify SNP markers associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for yield and other agronomic traits under low- and high-N environments. A total of 13 QTL were identified with 158 SNP markers, of which nine and four QTL were detected under low- and high-N environments, respectively. Five QTL one each for grain yield (qgy-1), days to silking (qdts-1) and anthesis- silking interval (qasi-6), and two for stay green characteristic (qsg-1 and qsg-4) were close to their adjacent markers, with an interval of 0.7 to 5.2 cM between them and explained phenotypic variance of 9 to 21%. These QTL would be invaluable for rapid introgression of genomic regions into maize populations using marker-assisted selection (MAS) approaches. However, further validation of these QTL is needed before use in MAS.