Genetic analysis seedling vigour under osmotic stress in rice by QTL mapping

Seed vigour is one of the most important parameters for establishing rice seed that affects high yielding production, especially under stress condition in rice ( Oryza sativa L.). Improvement of rice yields under abiotic stress through breeding requires a good understanding of genetic factors controlling important traits such as seedling vigour and related traits. To understand the genetic background of the relationships among these traits in indicia rice, we genetically analyzed F2:3 population derived from a cross between Tarommahalli × Khazar, under osmotic stress caused by sorbitol. In this investigation, a simple sequence repeat (SSR) linkage map of 1231.50 cM of rice was constructed by using 74 markers and quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis was accomplished for eight traits including germination percent, seed germination rate, radicle length, plumule length, coleoptile length, radicle dry matter, plumule dry matter, and coleoptile dry matter. A total of 32 QTLs were identified for the eight traits. Among them, one QTL for percent of germination ( qGP-8 ) was located in RM6208-8264 on chromosome 8 showed large effect (28.99%) on the trait. These results suggest the potential for increase productivity by transferring osmotic stress tolerance gene from Tarommahalli to other rice lines and identification of QTLs with large effects could be considered for use in marker assisted selection (MAS).