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. 2023 Dec;45(12):1587-1598.
doi: 10.1007/s13258-023-01465-8. Epub 2023 Oct 13.

Uncovering microsatellite markers associated with agronomic traits of South Sudan landrace maize

Emmanuel Andrea Mathiang #  1 , Hyeon Park #  1   2 , So Jung Jang  1   2 , Jungeun Cho  1   2 , Tae Hyeon Heo  1 , Ju Kyong Lee  3   4
Affiliations

Uncovering microsatellite markers associated with agronomic traits of South Sudan landrace maize

Emmanuel Andrea Mathiang et al. Genes Genomics. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Maize has great importance in South Sudan as the most cultivated cereal after sorghum; however, numerous challenges are encountered in its production. To raise maize production, it is critical to exploit the wealth of its genetic variation for grain yield enhancement.

Objective: This study aimed to conduct association analysis to identify specific simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers associated with quantitative agronomic traits.

Methods: Genetic variation and population structure were investigated among 31 maize accessions by association analysis using 50 SSR markers and seven quantitative agronomic traits.

Results: The genotypes exhibited abundant genetic variation, and 418 alleles were detected with an average of 8.4 alleles per locus. The average genetic diversity, major allele frequency, and polymorphic information content were 0.754, 0.373, and 0.725, respectively. The population structure based on 50 SSR markers divided the maize accessions into two main groups and an admixed group without considering their descent. Association analysis was performed using a general linear model (Q GLM) and a mixed linear model (Q + K MLM). Q GLM detected 44 trait-marker associations involving 23 SSR markers. Q + K MLM detected four marker-trait associations involving three SSR markers (umc2286, umc1303, umc1429) associated with days to tasseling, days to silking, leaf length, and leaf width.

Conclusions: The detected significant SSR markers related to agronomic traits could be useful for future genetic studies. Additionally, markers affecting several agronomic traits and overlapped SSR markers require further testing on a wide range of genotypes prior to their consideration as candidate markers for marker assisted selection for South Sudan maize improvement.

Keywords: Agronomic traits; Association analysis; Genetic diversity and population structure; SSR markers; South Sudan landrace maize; Trait-marker.

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