Analysis of QTLs for Mesocotyl Length in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The objective of this study was to understand the genetic basis underlying the relationship between mesocotyl elongation and plant hormone gibberellin (GA) in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between 2 japonica rice cultivars, Shennong 265 (long mesocotyl) and Lijiang Xintuan Heigu (short mesocotyl), quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for mesocotyl length were detected under both water and GA germination conditions. The treatment of 1.50 μmol L⁻¹ of GA dramatically stimulated the mesocotyl elongation of rice. A total of 5 QTLs for mesocotyl length were identified on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 6, and 11 under water and GA germination conditions, which accounted for 7–33% of the phenotypic variance, respectively. The LOD value of each QTL ranged from 3.65 to 15.52. Among the 5 QTLs, qML3, qML6, and qML11 were common in both germination conditions, whereas qML1 and qML2 were detected only under water germination condition. qML3 was usually detected in several experiments using different populations, indicating that it might be a major QTL for mesocotyl elongation of rice.