The biological basis of epistasis between quantitative trait loci for flavone and 3-deoxyanthocyanin synthesis in maize (Zea mays L.).
Genome
; 44(4): 667-76, 2001 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11550903
ABSTRACT
A major weakness in our understanding of the genetic basis of complex traits has been that of defining the extent and biological basis of epistasis. Our research group has been studying the genetic control of the accumulation of maysin, a C-glycosyl flavone, in maize, Zea mays (L.), silks. Previously, we demonstrated the importance of the p1 locus as a QTL for maysin synthesis. The p1 locus often exhibits significant epistatic interactions with other loci. We developed a mapping population, (W23al x GT119)F2, specifically designed to test whether genes in an intersecting pathway might be detected as QTLs for maysin synthesis and result in epistatic interaction effects. The a1 gene is not required for the synthesis of flavones but is required for the synthesis of 3-deoxyanthocyanins, an intersecting pathway, in maize silks. The p1 locus (P < 0.0001) was a QTL for both flavones and 3-deoxyanthocyanins. The a1 locus was also highly significant (P < 0.0001) for both traits, as was the p1 x a1 epistatic interaction (P < 0.0001). Our results demonstrate that altering the flux of biochemical intermediates between pathways may be the biological basis of major QTL effects and epistatic interactions.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Flavonoids
/
Zea mays
/
Epistasis, Genetic
/
Glucosides
/
Anthocyanins
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Language:
En
Journal:
Genome
Journal subject:
GENETICA
Year:
2001
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: