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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Plant Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #74854
Title: ORGANIZATION OF GROWTH-REGULATING GENES IN MIAZE: 2. QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI

Author
item KHAVKIN, E - INST AGRO BIOTECH MOSCOW
item Coe Jr, Edward

Submitted to: Russian Journal of Plant Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: This study was designed to test the classical assumption that genes significant to measurable traits (i.e., quantitative traits such as yield) in corn (maize, Zea mays L.) are distributed at random locations in the chromosomes. This assumption substantially defines procedures used in breeding improved corn for hybrids. In the 10 chromosomes of corn, genes that affect growth, development, and stress response occur in clusters on the chromosome maps, i.e., are nonrandomly distributed. Evidence for clustering of QTLs with these clusters of genes was derived through summarization and analysis of locations of both in concert. Because significant genes and QTLs are clustered, the following impacts are evident: 1) advancements are needed in methods for recombining blocks of genes and for increasing map resolution; and 2) advancements require more detailed definition of cell signaling and coordination of functions within plant cells. The value of this information is that it suggests a further need to develop focused and incisive breeding strategies for crop improvement.

Technical Abstract: In the maize genome, the majority of already mapped quantitative trait loci for plant growth, architecture and productivity, and master genes apparently related to transcription factors, participating in spatial and temporal control over plant development and/or hormone-response functions, map within clusters. We suggest that these clusters are functional units comprising genes for environmental sensors and signal transducers, receptor sites to translate environmental and hormonal signals to growth machinery, and master genes to govern critical spatial and temporal transitions in cell growth and differentiation. When clustered in such a functional unit, genes expressed in concert gain more efficient short-distance cis-control by transcription factors engaged in protein-protein and DNA-protein interactions that provide a great diversity of growth and developmental reactions to a limited number of environmental stimuli. Some clusters quite distant on the map might also interact in trans if clusters come into spatial proximity in the interphase nucleus, and the "incomplete" clusters are the best candidates for this trans-complementation.