Detection of QTLs Influencing Panicle Length, Panicle Grain Number and Panicle Grain Sterility in Rice(Oryza sativa L.)

The detection, characterization and use of quantitative traits loci, QTL, have significant potential to improve the efficiency of selective breeding of species. Therefore, a population with 59 advanced backcross lines($BC_2F_5$), derived from a cross between IR64 and Tarome molaei, were studied in Tonekabon Rice Research Station of Iran in order to map QTLs for panicle length, number of grain per panicle, and panicle grain sterility in rice. The parental screening wtih 235 SSR markers in agarose and polyacrylamide gels revealed 114 markers with clear polymorphic bands. To search for QTLs associated with panicle length, number of grain per panicle, and panicle grain sterility, we constructed a genetic linkage map using 114 microsatellite markers. Positive and negative transgressive segregations were observed in $BC_2F_5$ lines for all traits. Using multiple interval mapping(MIM), a total of 20 putative QTLs were detected, of which eight were for panicle length, three for number of grains, and nine for panicle grain sterility. The maximum number of QTLs were mapped on chromosomes 1 and 2 with eight QTLs. These QTL markers could possible be utilized for marker-assisted selection.