title: Genetic architecture of maize kernel composition in the nested association mapping and inbred association panels.
abstract: The maize (Zea mays) kernel plays a critical role in feeding humans and livestock around the world and in a wide array of industrial applications. An understanding of the regulation of kernel starch, protein, and oil is needed in order to manipulate composition to meet future needs. We conducted joint-linkage quantitative trait locus mapping and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for kernel starch, protein, and oil in the maize nested association mapping population, composed of 25 recombinant inbred line families derived from diverse inbred lines. Joint-linkage mapping revealed that the genetic architecture of kernel composition traits is controlled by 21-26 quantitative trait loci. Numerous GWAS associations were detected, including several oil and starch associations in acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase1-2, a gene that regulates oil composition and quantity. Results from nested association mapping were verified in a 282 inbred association panel using both GWAS and candidate gene association approaches. We identified many beneficial alleles that will be useful for improving kernel starch, protein, and oil content.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: McMullen
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bradbury
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ross-Ibarra
authors.forename: Edward S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Buckler
authors.forename: Sherry A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Flint-Garcia
mesh_terms: D017343:Genes, Plant; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*