Table_3_Dominance and Epistasis Interactions Revealed as Important Variants for Leaf Traits of Maize NAM Population.DOC

Leaf orientation traits of maize (Zea mays) are complex traits controlling by multiple loci with additive, dominance, epistasis, and environmental interaction effects. In this study, an attempt was made for identifying the causal loci, and estimating the additive, non-additive, environmental specific genetic effects underpinning leaf traits (leaf length, leaf width, and upper leaf angle) of maize NAM population. Leaf traits were analyzed by using full genetic model and additive model of multiple loci. Analysis with full genetic model identified 38∼47 highly significant loci (-log10PEW > 5), while estimated total heritability were 64.32∼79.06% with large contributions due to dominance and dominance related epistasis effects (16.00∼56.91%). Analysis with additive model obtained smaller total heritability (hT2 ≙ 18.68∼29.56%) and detected fewer loci (30∼36) as compared to the full genetic model. There were 12 pleiotropic loci identified for the three leaf traits: eight loci for leaf length and leaf width, and four loci for leaf length and leaf angle. Optimal genotype combinations of superior line (SL) and superior hybrid (SH) were predicted for each of the traits under four different environments based on estimated genotypic effects to facilitate maker-assisted selection for the leaf traits.

玉米（Zea mays）叶片方向的性状为复杂性状，受多个基因座调控，并表现出加性、显性、上位性以及环境交互效应。在本研究中，研究者试图识别因果基因座，并估算支撑叶片性状（叶片长度、叶片宽度和上叶片角度）的玉米NAM群体的加性、非加性以及环境特异遗传效应。叶片性状的分析采用了全遗传模型和多基因座加性模型。运用全遗传模型分析确定了38至47个高度显著的基因座（-log10PEW > 5），估计的总遗传力为64.32至79.06%，其中显性和与显性相关的上位性效应贡献较大（16.00至56.91%）。采用加性模型分析得到的总遗传力较小（hT2 ≡ 18.68至29.56%），且检测到的基因座数量（30至36个）比全遗传模型少。对于三个叶片性状，共识别出12个多效基因座：其中8个基因座与叶片长度和叶片宽度相关，4个基因座与叶片长度和叶片角度相关。基于估算的基因型效应，预测了在不同环境下优异系（SL）和优异杂交种（SH）的最优基因型组合，以促进叶片性状的标记辅助选择。