Screening and application of SSR markers related to seed storability traits in maize (Zea mays L.)

In this study, a maize F2:3 population and a population of RILs were constructed from a cross between Dong156 and Dong237, and SSR markers were then used to map QTL. A phenotypic index of the traits (N = 6) commonly related to seed storability, such as the germination energy, germination percentage, germination index, vigor index, seedling length, and simple vigor index generated under artificial aging treatment. Two consistent regions, cQTL-7 on chromosome 7 and cQTL-10 on chromosome 10, were identified by comparing QTL analysis results from these two populations. The four SSR markers (umc1671, phi328175, umc1648 and phi050) linked to cQTL-7 and cQTL-10 were selected using a Chi-squared test. Marker umc1648 exhibited the highest selection efficiency value of 88.89%. The four SSR markers were used to identify genomic regions related to storability in 141 maize inbred lines from NCRPIS. Finally, seven lines were identified that included the two regions consistently associated with superior seed storability. These results indicated that the four SSR markers screened in this study could be used for selection of maize germplasm with a high degree of seed storability.