Identification of QTLs for plant height, ear height and grain yield in maize (Zea mays L.) in response to nitrogen and phosphorus supply

With 2 figures and 2 tables Abstract Plant height (PH), ear height (EH) and the PH/EH ratio have a great effect on plant lodging in maize (Zea mays L.) under intensive cropping systems. To understand the genetic mechanisms controlling PH, EH and the PH/EH ratio in response to nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) supply, a set of 218 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was used to evaluate PH, EH, PH/EH ratio and grain yield (GY) and grain yield components under low N, low P and normal N and P supply (NP). A total of 100 QTLs (quantitative trait loci) were detected for the traits investigated. Several QTLs were found to be associated with PH (bin 1.06/1.07) only, both PH and EH (umc1692 at bin 5.01/5.03; umc2313-umc1006 at bin 6.02) and the PH/EH ratio (bnlg1484-bnlg1866 at bin 1.03; umc1164-um1757 at bin 4.01) which was also associated with grain yield. N- or P-inducible QTLs for PH, EH and the PH/EH ratio were found in both years and are sensitive to weather conditions.