Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with germination using chromosome segment substitution lines of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rapid and uniform seed germination under diverse environmental conditions is a desirable characteristic for most crop plants, such as rice, wheat, and maize. However, the genetic base of the variations in the rate of germination is not well understood. In this study, quantitative trait loci (QTL) for germination rate were mapped with a set of 143 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSL) each contains a small genomic fragment from a japonica variety Nipponbare in the uniform genetic background of an indica variety Zhenshan97. Nine CSSL showed significantly lower germination rate than that in Zhenshan97. Four germination-related QTL were identified located on chromosomes 2, 5, 6 and 10, at which all japonica alleles decreased germination rate. By using the CSSL-derived F2 population, a major QTL (qGR2) on chromosome 2 was confirmed, and delimited to a 10.4 kb interval containing three putative candidate genes, of which OsMADS29 was only expressed preferentially in the seed. These results would facilitate cloning of the major gene that affects germination rate, and provide an insight into the genetic basis of germination.