Analysis of Meta-QTL and Candidate Genes Related to Yield Components in Maize

In this study, 584 QTLs related to grain yield components (row number, kernel number per row and kernel weight) in maize were integrated from the published papers between 1994 and 2012 using the reference map of IBM2 2008 Neighbors high density maize genetic map. By Meta-analysis method, 73 Meta-QTLs for grain yield components were estimated, including 22 QTLs for row number, 7 QTLs for kernel number per row and 44 QTLs for kernel weight. With the B73 genome sequences, 10 maize genes and 12 rice homologous candidate genes related to yield components were comparatively and electronically mapped in consensus map, and these genes are located in maize chromosome Bins 1.04, 1.06, 1.07, 2.04, 2.06, 3.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.09, 5.03, 5.04, 5.05, 7.02, 8.03, 9.03, 10.06, and 10.07. The analysis of Meta-QTL and candidate genes related to grain yield components will provide useful information for marker-assisted selection breeding and gene cloning in maize.