AUTHOR=Chen Qian , Song Jun , Du Wen-Ping , Xu Li-Yuan , Jiang Yun , Zhang Jie , Xiang Xiao-Li , Yu Gui-Rong 

TITLE=Identification, Mapping, and Molecular Marker Development for Rgsr8.1: A New Quantitative Trait Locus Conferring Resistance to Gibberella Stalk Rot in Maize (Zea mays L.)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2017.01355

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2017.01355

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Maize stalk rot is a major fungal disease worldwide, and is difficult to control by chemical methods. Therefore, in maize breeding, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conferring resistance are important for controlling the disease. Next-generation sequencing technologies are considered a rapid and efficient method to establish the association of agronomic traits with molecular markers or candidate genes. In the present study, we employed QTL-seq, which is a whole-genome resequencing-based approach, to identify candidate genomic regions conferring resistance to maize stalk rot. A novel resistance QTL <italic>Rgsr8.1</italic> was finely mapped, conferring broad-spectrum resistance to <italic>Gibberella</italic> stalk rot (<italic>GSR</italic>). Segregation analysis in F<sub>2</sub> and BC<sub>1</sub>F<sub>1</sub> populations, which were derived from a cross between 18327 (Susceptible) and S72356 (Resistant), indicated that the resistance to <italic>GSR</italic> was likely to be a quantitatively inherited trait in maize. The result of QTL-seq showed that the resistance to <italic>GSR</italic> was mapped on chromosome 8 from 161.001 to 170.6 Mb. Based on the simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, and the recombinant test, the location of <italic>Rgsr8.1</italic> was narrowed down to 2.04 Mb, flanked by SSR-65 and SNP-25 markers at the physical location from 164.69 to 166.72 Mb based on the maize reference genome. In this region, two candidate resistant genes were found with, one auxin-responsive elements and the other encoding a disease resistance protein. In summary, these results will be useful in maize breeding programs to improve the resistance to <italic>GSR</italic> in maize.</p>