Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci for Contents of Macro- and Microelements in Milled Rice (Oryza sativa L.).

ABSTRACT

Macro- and microelement contents are important traits for nutritional quality in rice. In this study, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for the contents of seven mineral elements in milled rice were detected using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of the indica rice cross Zhenshan 97/Milyang 46, followed by the validation and fine mapping of a QTL region on the short arm of chromosome 6. A total of 20 QTLs distributed on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 6, 10, and 11 were detected in the RIL population. Co-localizations of QTLs for multiple traits were observed, of which the qP3/qMg3/qZn3 region was shown to have the largest effects for the contents of phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc, and the qK6.1/qCa6/qZn6/qMn6/qCu6 region was found to be responsible for five of the seven traits. Using near isogenic lines having sequential segregating region, the target QTL on chromosome 6 was delimitated to a 29.9 kb region flanked by RM19410 and Si2944. This QTL showed major effects for all seven traits, with the enhancing alleles derived from the male parent Milyang 46.