Quantitative trait loci and candidate genes for yield and related traits in Madhukar x Swarna RIL population of rice

Yield of popular rice varieties such as Swarna grown in rainfed lowlands and Madhukar grown in flood prone areas needs to be continuously improved. Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were developed from the cross between two indica cultivars Madhukar and Swarna. QTLs were mapped using 110 markers in 168 RILs. In all, 26 QTLs were mapped for yield and five related traits on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12. QTL for plant height and days to flowering were co-located between RM23147 — RM337 on chromosome 8. RM251, RM314, and RM1135 were significantly associated with plant height and OsYSL17 was significantly linked with grain yield. Epistatic interaction was detected for plant height and number of tillers. Several candidate genes reported for yield and related traits underlie the QTL regions.