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Title: Natural variation at sympathy for the ligule controls penetrance of the semidominant lioguleless narrow-R mutation in Zea mays

Author
item BUESHCER, E - Purdue University
item MOON, J - University Of California
item RUNKEL, A - University Of California
item Hake, Sarah
item DILKES, B - Purdue University

Submitted to: G3, Genes/Genomes/Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2014
Publication Date: 10/24/2014
Citation: Bueshcer, E.M., Moon, J., Runkel, A., Hake, S.C., Dilkes, B.P. 2014. Natural variation at sympathy for the ligule controls penetrance of the semidominant lioguleless narrow-R mutation in Zea mays. G3, Genes/Genomes/Genetics. 4(12):2297-2306.

Interpretive Summary: We show that quantitative genetic variation affects penetrance of Lgn-R. To examine the genetic architecture underlying Lgn-R expressivity, crosses between Lgn-R/+ mutants in a B73 background and intermated B73 x Mo17 recombinant inbred lines were evaluated in multiple years and locations. A single main-effect quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 1 (sympathy for the ligule; sol) was discovered with a Mo17-contributed allele that suppressed Lgn-R mutant phenotypes. This QTL has a genetic-interaction with a locus on chromosome 7 (lucifer; lcf) for which the B73-contributed allele increases the ability of the sol(Mo17) allele to suppress Lgn-R. Neither of the genetic intervals likely to contain sol or lcf overlap with any current liguleless genes nor with previously identified genome-wide association QTL connected to leaf architecture.

Technical Abstract: Leaf architecture determines plant structural integrity, light harvesting, and economic considerations such as plant density. Ligules, junctions at the leaf sheath and blade in grasses, protect stalks from environmental stresses and, in conjunction with auricles, controls leaf angle. The liguleless mutant, Liguleless narrow (Lgn-R), affects ligule and auricle development and results in a narrow leaf phenotype. Analysis of phenotypes across environments identified a genotype by environment interaction determining the strength of the modifier interaction.