Genome-wide meta-analysis of maize heterosis reveals the potential role of additive gene expression at pericentromeric loci.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The identification of QTL involved in heterosis formation is one approach to unravel the not yet fully understood genetic basis of heterosis - the improved agronomic performance of hybrid F1 plants compared to their inbred parents. The identification of candidate genes underlying a QTL is important both for developing markers and determining the molecular genetic basis of a trait, but remains difficult owing to the large number of genes often contained within individual QTL. To address this problem in heterosis analysis, we applied a meta-analysis strategy for grain yield (GY) of Zea mays L. as example, incorporating QTL-, hybrid field-, and parental gene expression data.

Results

For the identification of genes underlying known heterotic QTL, we made use of tight

SUBMITTER: Thiemann A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4234143 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature