QTL Mapping of Agronomic Traits in an Advanced Backcross Population from a Cross between Oryza sativa L. cv. Milyang 23 and O. glaberrima

In the previous study, 141 $BC_3F_2$ lines from a cross between the Oryza sativa cv. Milyang 23 and O. glaberrima were used to identify favorable wild QTL alleles for yield component traits. In this study, we carried out QTL analysis of four grain morphology as well as four yield component traits using 141 $BC_3F_5$ lines from the same cross and compared QTLs detected in two different generations. The mean number of O. glaberrima segments in the 141 $BC_3F_5$ lines ranged from 1 to 13 with 2.69 and 5.71 of the average means of homozygous and heterozygous segments, respectively. There was a three-fold difference in the number of QTLs detected for four traits commonly evaluated in two generations (seven QTLs in the $BC_3F_5$ vs 21 in the $BC_3F_2$ population). The percentages of the phenotypic variance explained by QTLs in the BC3F5 population were similar to or less than those in the $BC_3F_2$ population. This is probably due to the difference in the genetic composition of two populations and the environmental effects. The locations of the QTLs commonly detected in both generations were in good agreement except for one QTL for spikelets per panicle. The yield QTL, yd3 was colocalized with the spikelets per panicle, spp3. Yield increase at this locus is due to the increase in spikelets per panicle, because both traits were associated with increase in spikelets per panicle and yield due to the presence of an O. glaberrima allele. Clusters of QTLs for grain morphology traits were observed in two chromosome regions. One cluster harboring five QTLs near SSR markers RM106 and RM263 was detected on chromosome 2. This population would serve as a foundation for development of the introgression line population from a cross between Milyang 23 and O. glaberrima.