The genetic basis and effect of the few-branched-1 (Fbr1) mutant tassel trait on grain yield and seed production dynamics in maize

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Date
2011-11
Authors
Dari, Shorai
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University of the Free State
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English: Maize is among the most commonly bred crops in the world and maize breeding programmes are increasingly using molecular tools to enhance the efficiency and speed of developing productive cultivars. Breeding efforts of CIMMYT have focused on incorporating drought tolerance into elite germplasm. The incorporation of the Fbr1 gene into its elite germplasm was one such effort as the improvement of drought tolerance relies on manipulation of adaptive traits that limit yield under the target stress. The aim of this study was to find the genetic basis and effect of the Fbr1 tassel mutation on maize grain yield under stress and non-stress environments. A number of elite CIMMYT lines have been successfully converted to the Fbr1 mutation, and were homozygous for the 1074 SNP loci used, thus could be used in breeding programmes involving these new tassel mutants. The UPGMA cluster analysis revealed two discrete clusters of the inbred lines according to predefined CIMMYT heterotic groups. In the principal component analysis, the SNP loci were effective in characterising the maize inbred lines since they separated maize lines according to tassel size. Positive relationships between grain yield and pollen yield and its components were found, under drought conditions. However, the Fbr1 tassel trait did not have a positive effect on yield under stress and Fbr1 x Fbr1 hybrids had lower grain and pollen yield, and were less adapted to abiotic stress conditions. This raised questions on the value of incorporating such trait in breeding programmes targeting stress tolerance. Therefore, incorporation of the Fbr1 tassel trait should accompany selection for other traits associated with stress tolerance under low N and drought conditions, such as the “stay green” trait, factors associated with premature senescence, synchrony between male and female flowering and decreased barrenness if yield gain is to be realized. Estimates of genetic components of variance revealed importance of both additive and dominance components in the determination of grain yield, pollen yield and their components. Additive gene action was predominant in determining tassel size and pollen yield, thus progress can be made by selecting within segregating progenies when improving maize populations for the Fbr1 trait. The investigation of GxE interaction showed significant variation in stability of Fbr1 lines and hybrids as measured by mean yield and ASV. The AMMI and the GGE biplots ranked the best and poorest genotypes similarly in terms of yield performance and stability. The two classification models could be used simultaneously to make selection of genotypes more precise. Genetic distances were positively correlated with hybrid performance, SCA, and heterosis indicating that genetic distance could accurately predict hybrid performance in this set of germplasm. This study showed that yield is a complex trait and its improvement under stress should involve simultaneous selection of other traits associated with stress tolerance. The SNP markers are the marker of choice in genetic characterisation and determination of marker-based genetic distances because of their wide coverage of the maize genome. A number of lines homozygous for the Fbr1 tassel trait, has been identified in this study. These lines could be used in future research such as the developing of mapping populations aimed at tagging the Fbr1 trait, since the position of the Fbr1 gene in the maize genome is still unknown.
Afrikaans: Mielies is van die mees algemene gewasse waarvoor teling gedoen word in die wêreld. Mielie teelprogramme gebruik toenemend molekulêre tegnieke om die effektiwiteit en die spoed van vrystelling van nuwe, produktiewe cultivars te verseker. Teling by CIMMYTfokus op die verbetering van droogtetoleransie in elite kiemplasma. Die insluiting van die Fbr1 geenin die elite kiemplasma was een so ‘n aksie, omdat die verbetering van droogtetoleransie berus op die manipulasie van aanpassingseienskappe wat opbrengs beperk onder spesifieke stremmingstoestande. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die genetiese basis en die effek van die Fbr1 pluimmutasie op mieliegraanopbrengs te bepaal in beide stremmings en optimale omgewings. ‘n Aantal elite CIMMYT lyne is suksesvol omgeskakel na die Fbr1 mutasie, en is homosigoot vir die 1074 SNP loci wat gebruik is. Hulle kan dus aangewend word in teelprogramme wat hierdie nuwe pluimmutasie gebruik. Die UPGMAgroeperingsanalise het twee diskrete groepe ingeteelde lyne getoon volgens die voorafbepaalde CIMMYT heterotiese groepe. Die SNP loci was effektief in die karakterisering van die mielie ingeteelde lyne in die hoofkomponent analise omdat dit die mielielyne duidelik geskei het volgens die pluimgrootte.Daar was ‘n positiewe verwantskap tussen graanopbrengs en stuifmeelopbrengs en verwante eienskappe daarvan onder droogtestremming. Die Fbr1pluimmutasie het egter nie ‘n positiewe effek op opbrengs onder stremming gehad nie, en Fbr1 x Fbr1 basters het laer graan en stuimeelopbrengs as die ander basters gehad en was swakker aangepas onder abiotiese stremming. Dit het vrae laat ontstaan oor die waarde van insluiting van hierdie eienskap in teelprogramme vir stremmings toleransie. Dit is belangrik dat die insluiting van die Fbr1pluimmutasie gepaardgaan met die seleksie vir ander eienskappe wat geassosieer word met stremmingstoleransie onder beide droogte en lae N toestande, soos die “stay green” eienskap, faktore wat geassossieer word met vroeë verdroging, sinkronisasie tussen manlike en vroulike antese en ‘n afname in steriliteit, as verbeterde graanopbrengs gerealiseer moet word. Bepaling van genetiese komponente van variansie het die belangrikheid van beide additiewe en dominansie komponente in die bepaling van graanopbrengs en stuifmeeloprengs en verwante eienskappe getoon. Additiewe geenaksie was die belangrikste met die bepaling van pluimgrootte en stuifmeelopbrengs, dus kan genetiese vooruitgang gemaak word deur seleksie binne segregerende nageslagte as mieliepopulasies vir die Fbr1eienskap verbeter word. Die GxE interaksie studie het betekenisvolle variasie in die stabiliteit van die Fbr1 lyne en basters aangetoon soos gemeet met die gemiddelde opbrengs en die ASV. Die AMMI en die GGE grafieke het die beste en die swakste genotipes in ooreenstemmende rangordes geplaas in terme van graanopbrengs en stabiliteit. Die twee klassifikasie modelle kan gelyktydig gebruik word om die seleksie van genotipes meer effektief te maak. Genetiese afstande was positief gekorreleer met baster opbrengs, SCA en heterose wat wys dat genetieseafstand baster prestasie effektief kan voorspel in hierdie genotipes. Hierdie studie het getoon dat opbrengs ‘n komplekse eienskap is en dat die verbetering daarvan onder stremming ook die seleksie van ander eienskappe moet insluit wat geassosieër word met stremmings toleransie. SNP is die merker van keuse in genetiese karakterisering en bepaling van merker-gebasseerde afstande omdat dit ‘n goeie dekking van die hele mieliegenoom gee. ‘n Aantal lyne homosigoot vir die Fbr1pluimmutasie is geïdentifiseer in hierdie studie. Hierdie lyne kan in toekomstige studies gebruik word, soos die posisionering van die Fbr1 eienskap, omdat die posisie van die Fbr1 geen in die mieliegenoom nog onbekend is.
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Thesis (Ph.D. (Plant Sciences: Plant Breeding))--University of the Free State, 2013, Corn -- Genetics, Corn -- Breeding, Grain -- Yields, Seed technology
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