QTL mapping of maize (<i>Zea mays</i>) stay‐green traits and their relationship to yield

Abstract

Abstract A maize genetic linkage map derived from 115 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers was constructed from an F 2 population. The F 2 was generated from a cross between a stay‐green inbred line (Q319) and a normal inbred line (Mo17). The map resolved 10 linkage groups and spanned 1431.0 cM in length with an average genetic distance of 12.44 cM between two neighbouring loci. A total of 14 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected for stay‐green traits at different postflowering time intervals and identified by composite interval mapping. The respective QTL contribution to phenotypic variance ranged from 5.40% to 11.49%, with trait synergistic action from Q319. Moreover, maize stay‐green traits were closely correlated to grain yield. Additional QTL analyses indicated that multiple intervals of stay‐green QTL overlapped with yield QTL.