Characterization and map-based cloning of miniature2-m1, a gene controlling kernel size in maize

Kernel development plays an important role in determining kernel size in maize.Here we present the cloning and characterization of a maize gene,nitrate transporter1.5(NRT1.5),which controls small kernel phenotype by playing an important role in kernel development.A novel recessive small kernel mutant miniature2-m1(mn2-m1)was isolated from self-pollinated progenies of breeding materials.The mutant spontaneously showed small kernel character arresting both embryo and endosperm development at an early stage after pollination.Utilizing 21 polymorphic SSR markers,the mn2-m1 locus was limited to a 209.9-kb interval using 9176 recessive individuals of a BC1 segregating population from mn2-m1/B73.Only one annotated gene was located in this 209.9 kb region,Zm00001 d019294,which was predicted to encode nitrate transporter1.5(NRT1.5).Allelism tests confirmed that mn2-m1 was allelic to miniature2-m2(mn2-m2)and miniature2-710 B(mn2-710 B).The mn2-m1 and mn2-m2 alleles both had nucleotide deletions in the coding region resulting in premature termination,and the mn2-710 B allele had some missence mutations.Subcellular localization showed that Miniature 2(MN2)is localized in the plasma membrane.Quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)analysis revealed that the expression of MN2 and some genes involved in the basal endosperm transfer layer(BETL)and embryo surrounding region(ESR)development were affected in mn2-m1 seeds.These results suggested that MN2 plays an important role in maize seed development.

QTL consistency for agronomic traits across three generations and potential applications in popcorn

Favorable agronomic traits are important to improve productivity of popcorn. In this study, a recombinant inbred line（RIL） population consisting of 258 lines was evaluated to identify quantitative trait loci（QTLs） for nine agronomic traits（plant height, ear height, top height（plant height subtracted ear height）, top height/plant height, number of leaves above the top ear, leaf area, stalk diameter, number of tassel branches and the length of tassel） under three environments. Meta-analysis was conducted then to integrate QTLs identified across three generations（RIL, F2：3 and BC2F2） developed from the same crosses. In total, 179 QTLs and 36 meta-QTLs（m QTL） were identified. The percentage of phenotypic variation（R2） explained by any single QTL varied from 3.86 to 28.4%, and 24 QTLs with contributions over 15%. Nine common QTLs located in the same or similar chromosome regions were detected across three generations. Five meta-QTLs were identified including QTLs in three independent studies. Seven important m QTLs were composed of 11–26 QTLs for 4–7 traits, respectively. Only 11 m QTLs were commonly identified in the same or similar chromosome regions across agronomic traits, popping characteristics（popping fold, popping volume and popping rate） and grain yield components（ear weight per plant, grain weight per plant, 100-grain weight, ear length, kernel number per row, ear diameter, row number per ear and kernel ratio） by meta-QTL analysis. In conclusion, we identified a list of QTLs, some of which with much higher contributions to agronomic traits should be valuable for further study in improving both popping characteristics and grain yield components in popcorn.