Characterization of a QTL associated with chlorophyll content using progeny from an interspecific cross in rice (Oryza Sativa L.)

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the world's most important cereal crop. In crop plant, chlorophyll content and leaf senescence could affect grain filling and yield. We analyzed a QTL associated with chlorophyll content and delayed leaf senescence using high chlorophyll near isogenic line (HC-NIL). HC-NIL derived from a cross between Oryza sativa cv. Hwaseong as a recurrent parent and wild species O. grandiglumis as a donor parent showed higher chlorophyll content than Hwaseong. To identify QTL associated with chlorophyll content, 58 $F_3$ and 38 $F_4$ lines were developed from a cross between HC-NIL and Hwaseong. For QTL analysis, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used for genotyping and one-way ANOVA was conducted. A QTL for chlorophyll content (qCC2) was detected in chromosome 2 and explained 24.63% of phenotypic variation. The senescence effect of the qCC2 was examined in dark-induced incubation (DII). Detached leaves from Hwaseong and HC-NIL were incubated on 3mM MES buffer (pH 5.8) at $27^{\circ}C$ under complete dark condition. After 3 days of incubation, the Hwaseong leaves turned yellow, but the HC-NIL leaves were green. HC-NIL has higher chlorophyll content with delayed senescence than Hwaseong. These results indicated that qCC2 is associated with stay-green phenotype. To know whether the qCC2 is responsible for leaf functionality, ion leakage test and Fv/Fm measurement were performed. Both experiment results showed that differences were observed between Hwaseong and HC-NIL but it was not statistically significant. These results might suggest that the qCC2 is possibly related to chlorophyll content and non-functional stay-green phenotype.