Table_2_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）的叶片方向性状为复杂性状，受多个基因座控制，并表现出加性、显性、上位性以及环境交互作用的影响。本研究旨在识别因果基因座，并估算支持玉米NAM群体叶片性状（叶片长度、叶片宽度和上叶片角度）的加性、非加性以及环境特异遗传效应。通过全遗传模型和多基因座加性模型对叶片性状进行分析，全遗传模型分析识别出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%，其中显性和显性相关上位性效应贡献较大（16.00至56.91%）。而采用加性模型的分析获得的总遗传力较小（hT2 ≡ 18.68至29.56%），且相比全遗传模型检测到的基因座数量更少（30至36个）。对于三个叶片性状，共识别出12个多效基因座：其中8个与叶片长度和叶片宽度相关，4个与叶片长度和叶片角度相关。根据估计的基因型效应，在四个不同的环境下预测了每个性状的优良系（SL）和优良杂交种（SH）的最优基因型组合，以促进基于标记辅助选择的叶片性状选择。