Identification of Genetic Variations and Candidate Genes Responsible for Stalk Sugar Content and Agronomic Traits in Fresh Corn via GWAS across Multiple Environments
The stem and leaves of fresh corn plants can be used as green silage or can be converted to biofuels, and the stalk sugar content and yield directly determine the application value of fresh corn. To identify the genetic variations and candidate genes responsible for the related traits in fresh corn,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/21/13490 |
| Summary: | The stem and leaves of fresh corn plants can be used as green silage or can be converted to biofuels, and the stalk sugar content and yield directly determine the application value of fresh corn. To identify the genetic variations and candidate genes responsible for the related traits in fresh corn, the genome-wide scan and genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) were performed. A total of 32 selective regions containing 172 genes were detected between sweet and waxy corns. Using the stalk sugar content and seven other agronomic traits measured in four seasons over two years, the GWAS identified ninety-two significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Most importantly, seven SNPs associated with the stalk sugar content were detected across multiple environments, which could explain 13.68–17.82% of the phenotypic variation. Accessions differing in genotype for certain significant SNPs showed significant variation in the stalk sugar content and other agronomic traits, and the expression levels of six important candidate genes were significantly different between two materials with different stalk sugar content. The genetic variations and candidate genes provide valuable resources for future studies of the molecular mechanism of the stalk sugar content and establish the foundation for molecular marker-assisted breeding of fresh corn. |
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| ISSN: | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |