QTL Mapping of Tropical Maize Grain Components Associated with Maize Weevil Resistance

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Abstract
The maize weevil (MW), Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.), is a globally distributed pest that causes severe losses in stored maize (Zea mays L.) worldwide. A previous study identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) contributing to reduced grain damage and losses by MW in the maize mapping population CML290 × Muneng‐8128C0HC1‐18‐2‐1‐1. This study was conducted to identify QTL associated with the identified biochemical bases of resistance in the maize grain. Eleven traits were analyzed on grain samples from F2 lines across two environments: p‐coumaric acid (p‐CA), cis‐ and trans‐ferulic acid (FA), four isomers of diferulic acids (DiFA), phenolic acid amides (p‐coumaroyl‐feruloyl putrescine [CFP] and diferuloyl putrescine [DFP]), total DiFA and total phenols acids (PhA). Significant variations were observed for most of the traits, while heritabilities ranged from 0.09 to 0.79. Ten QTL were identified for trans‐ and cis‐FA, 8,5′‐DiFA, 8‐O‐4′‐DiFA, 8,5′‐diferulic acid benzofuran form, DFP, and CFP while seven QTL were identified for p‐CA, 5,5′‐DiFA, FA, total DiFAs, and total PhA. These QTL were dispersed across the maize genome and explain between 25 and 47% of the phenotypic variance (σ2p) and 50 to 98% of the genotypic variance (σ2g). Nine regions were common between QTL associated with MW susceptibility and cell wall bound compounds, suggesting a strong genetic association with MW resistance in tropical maize.
Funding Information
  • Canadian International Development Agency

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