title: Meta-analysis and candidate gene mining of low-phosphorus tolerance in maize.
abstract: Plants with tolerance to low-phosphorus (P) can grow better under low-P conditions, and understanding of genetic mechanisms of low-P tolerance can not only facilitate identifying relevant genes but also help to develop low-P tolerant cultivars. QTL meta-analysis was conducted after a comprehensive review of the reports on QTL mapping for low-P tolerance-related traits in maize. Meta-analysis produced 23 consensus QTL (cQTL), 17 of which located in similar chromosome regions to those previously reported to influence root traits. Meanwhile, candidate gene mining yielded 215 genes, 22 of which located in the cQTL regions. These 22 genes are homologous to 14 functionally characterized genes that were found to participate in plant low-P tolerance, including genes encoding miR399s, Pi transporters and purple acid phosphatases. Four cQTL loci (cQTL2-1, cQTL5-3, cQTL6-2, and cQTL10-2) may play important roles for low-P tolerance because each contains more original QTL and has better consistency across previous reports.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science, National Key Facility of Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Mohammed Shalim
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Chuanxiao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yunbi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wen-Xue
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D017343:Genes, Plant; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus
keywords: Candidate gene; consensus QTL; low-phosphorus tolerance; maize; meta-analysis