Identification of QTL associated with silicon and zinc content in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and their role in blast disease resistance

Abstract

QTL associated with zinc (Zn) and silicon (Si) content in rice were identified and mapped on different rice chromosomes. Based on interval mapping, a QTL was detected for silicon content on chromosome three and this QTL showed positive additive effect of 0.054 and explained 12.9% phenotypic variation. Additionally, single marker analysis results identified eighteen QTL for silicon content on different chromosomes. Similarly, a total of six QTL were identified for zinc content in rice seeds using single marker analysis and mapped one each on chromosome number 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 11. These QTL individually explained 4.4% to 9.5% phenotypic variation. The identified QTL were mapped on chromosome regions having blast resistance QTL and candidate genes for blast resistance. The overlapping of silicon and zinc QTL and disease resistance loci on same chromosome regions suggested their positive role in blast disease resistance.