Associations between SSR markers and multiple important agronomic traits in maize

Abstract

Association analysis, a recent approach in studying genetic architecture of quantitative traits, provides higher resolution mapping, time efficient and direct application on breeding material in comparison to biparental QTL mapping. Assuming that markers near stable QTLs across different environments and genetic backgrounds can be useful for marker-assisted selection, we selected SSR markers previously associated with the QTLs for the traits of interest in various mapping studies. To confirm the marker trait associations and evaluate the stability of the QTLs, a set of diverse maize inbred lines developed at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad was chosen. It was genotyped with microsatellite markers near already known QTLs and phenotyped for flowering time, yield and yield components. Association analysis indicated significant correlations between several agronomic traits and three microsatellites on chromosomes 3, 5 and 8, namely umc1025, bnlg1237 and bnlg162.