QTL mapping and analysis of QTL-environment interaction associated with two silicon nutrient traits in rice seedlings exposed to enhanced UV-B radiation.

Mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and its interaction with the environment (UV-B radiation) were analyzed via two silicon nutrient traits,root uptake to silicon (RUS) and leaf use efficiency of silicon (LUES) in rice RILs population seedlings under enhanced UV-B radiation.The results show that four QTLs controlling LUES are located on chromosomes 2,3 and 10.Only one QTL that controls RUS is located on chromosome 11.Besides,two and three pairs of genotype-environment (GE) epistasis QTL are detected for RUS and LSUE respectively.Only one of these that controls RUS displays a significant effective value.This indicates that RUS is more severely influenced by UV-B radiation than LUES.Hence it could be more efficient to use LUES as a genetic trait in breeding UV-B resistant rice.