Affiliation:
1. Crop Cultivation and Tillage Institute of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
2. Northeast Branch of National Salt-Alkali Tolerant Rice Technology Innovation Center, Harbin 150086, China
3. Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology in Cold Region, Harbin 150086, China
4. Heilongjiang Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Crop Cold Damage, Harbin 150086, China
5. Qiqihar Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qiqihar 161006, China
Abstract
Salt–alkaline stress is one of the most stressful occurrences, causing negative effects on plant development and agricultural yield. Identifying and utilizing genes that affect alkaline tolerance is an excellent approach to accelerate breeding processes and meet the needs for remediating saline–alkaline soil. Here, we employed a mapping population of 176 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) produced from a cross between alkali-tolerant Longdao5 and alkali-sensitive Zhongyouzao8 to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) determining alkali tolerance at the seedling stage. For the evaluation of alkali tolerance, the recovered seedling’s average alkali tolerance index (ATI), root number (RN), root length (RL), seedling dry weight (SW), root dry weight (RW), and seedling height (SH) were assessed, together with their relative alkaline damage rate. Under alkaline stress, the ATI was substantially negative connected with the root number, seedling height, seedling dry weight, and root dry weight; however, it was considerably positive correlated with the relative alkaline damage rate of the root number and root dry weight. A total of 13 QTLs for the root number, root length, seedling height, seedling dry weight, root dry weight, and alkali tolerance index under alkaline stress were identified, which were distributed across chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8. All of these QTLs formed two QTL clusters for alkali tolerance on chromosome 5 and chromosome 7, designated AT5 and AT7, respectively. Nine QTLs were identified for the relative alkaline damage rate of the root number, root length, seedling height, seedling dry weight, and root dry weight under alkali stress. These QTLs were located on chromosome 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12. In conclusion, these findings further strengthen our knowledge about rice’s genetic mechanisms for alkaline tolerance. This research offers clues to accelerate breeding programs for new alkaline-tolerance rice varieties.
Funder
the Fundamental Research Funds for the Research Institutes of Heilongjiang Province
Excellent Youth Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China
key research and development program in Heilongjiang Province
Innovation Project of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences