| Maize is an important food, feed and economic crop. The main target of breeding is that the yield of maize should be high and stable with more beneficial microelement in maize. Grain traits and beneficial microelement are complex quantitative traits. They are controlled by numerous quantitative trait loci(QTL). Exploring the relationship between kernel structure and the beneficial microelement concentration and QTL mapping for leaves Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn concentration and kernel structure in maize, it will provide reference and help for maize breeding with rich microelement. This study used the molecular marker linkage map of RIL population which is constructed by X178 and P53 to QTL map grain area ratio, grain area, grain length / width, grain length, grain width, grain diameter, grain roundness and leaves Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn concentration under one environment in maize. And it also analyzed if grain trait was correlated with leaves Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn concentration. The main results were as follows:1. QTL mapping for theleaves Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn concentration was performed. There were two QTLs for zinc and one QTL for copper. They distributed on chromosome 5, 6, and 9. The phenotypic variance is 4.18%, 2.89%, 2.36%, respectively.2. 10 QTLs of grain traits in 2012 and 2013 were detected i.e. 3 QTL for grain area, 3 QTL for grain width, 1 QTL for grain area ratio, grain length / width, grain length, grain width, grain diameter, grain roundness, respectively. The eight traits were mainly located on Chromosome 6 and 9. 1 QTL was located on Chromosome 2 and 8, respectively. There were 5 QTLs on Chromosome 6 and the phenotypic variance ranged from 1.99%-2.55%. There were 3 QTLs on Chromosome 9 and the phenotypic variance ranged from 2.91%-5.45%. The phenotypic variance of QTLs on Chromosome 2 and8 was 2.73%, 2.85%, respectively. There were 6 QTLs which showed negative additive genetic effects and 4 QTLs which showed positive genetic effects.3. The leaves Fe concentration was correlated with the grain copper concentration, and the correlation coefficient was different. The correlation of the leaves and grain zinc, iron and manganese concentration is weak. The correlation coefficient was not statistical significant. The grain iron concentration was positive correlated with grain copper concentration significantly in 2012 and 2013. The correlation of other elements is weakly.4. The grain zinc and iron concentration was not statistical significant. But the grain copper concentration was correlated with grain area ratio, grain area, grain perimeter, grain width and grain diameter, significantly, in 2012. The grain zinc concentration was positive correlated with grain aspect ratio, and negative correlated with roundness, significantly, in 2013. The grain iron concentration was negative correlated with grain area ratio, grain area, grain length and grain diameter significantly in 2013. There were significant correlations for the grain traits in 2012 and 2013.5. 14 inbred lines with high Zn concentration and greater grain were obtained. |
