QTL analysis of lodging resistance and related traits in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.)

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is the most widely cultivated annual forage grass in Japan. Lodging damage reduces both harvested yield and forage quality. To identify the chromosomal regions controlling lodging resistance in Italian ryegrass, we analyzed seven quantitative characters-heading date, plant height, culm weight, culm diameter, culm strength, tiller number, and culm pushing resistance-and evaluated lodging scores in the field in a two-way pseudo-testcross F-1 population. Significant correlations between most combinations of the traits examined were found. Seventeen QTLs for all traits except culm weight were detected on six of seven linkage groups by simple interval mapping using cross-pollination (CP) algorithm, and 33 independent QTLs were also detected by composite interval mapping from both male and female parental linkage maps. In addition, up to 18 QTLs for lodging scores evaluated at nine different times were detected on all linkage groups. The flanking markers of those QTLs will serve as a useful tool for marker-assisted selection of lodging resistance in Italian ryegrass.