Characterization of Heading- and Yield-related Gene Loci in the Cheongcheong/Nagdong Doubled Haploid Line using Rice QTLs

Abstract

A quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of traits related to heading and yield was performed develop rice cultivars that are both early maturing and panicle weight type varieties. Our analysis included 120 strains of the Cheongcheong Nagdong doubled haploid (CNDH) variety. An observational growth experiment was conducted to identify genetic agronomic traits of CNDH. Heading date, ten plant weight, moisture, thousand grain weight, and yield had a normal distribution based on the frequency distribution table of the observational growth data. The QTL analysis found one heading-related and nine yield-related QTLs. The LOD of 2.85 was the largest in QTLs for heading date (QHD), 5.39 in QTLs for ten plant weight (QTPW), 3.92 in QTLs for moisture (QM), 4.80 in QTLs for thousand grain weight (QTGW), and 3.7 in QTLs for yield (QY). Genomic analysis detected 58 candidate genes on chromosome 2, 3, 7, 8, and 10. Among those, we found Rcd1 protein and OsERF3 gene in QM, MtN3 and zinc finger protein genes in QTGW, and OsNAC3 protein gene in QY. If further analysis reveals the presence of genes related to water content, thousand grain weight or yield in the CNDH stains, we can develop a selection of varieties that will be capable of coping with climate change and will contribute to global food problems.