title: Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals the Genetic Basis of Stalk Cell Wall Components in Maize.
abstract: Lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose are the three main components of the plant cell wall and can impact stalk quality by affecting cell wall structure and strength. In this study, we evaluated the lignin (LIG), cellulose (CEL) and hemicellulose (HC) contents in maize using an association mapping panel that included 368 inbred lines in seven environments. A genome-wide association study using approximately 0.56 million SNPs with a minor allele frequency of 0.05 identified 22, 18 and 24 loci significantly associated with LIG, CEL and HC at P < 1.0×10-4, respectively. The allelic variation of each significant association contributed 4 to 7% of the phenotypic variation. Candidate genes identified by GWAS mainly encode enzymes involved in cell wall metabolism, transcription factors, protein kinase and protein related to other biological processes. Among the association signals, six candidate genes had pleiotropic effects on lignin and cellulose content. These results provide valuable information for better understanding the genetic basis of stalk cell wall components in maize.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
authors.forename: Hongwu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
authors.forename: Zhifang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
authors.forename: Yujin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
authors.forename: Changling
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000235:genetics; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D017343:Genes, Plant; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005838:Genotype; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin; D011494:Protein Kinases