Thus, development of molecular markers closely linked to underlying genes or QTL for traits, especially functional markers, will be necessary for accumulation and maintenance of many of these small-effect QTL to achieve an acceptable level of resistance BI 6727 manufacturer within breeding populations. Functional marker development also requires allele sequences of functionally characterized genes from which polymorphic, functional motifs affecting

plant phenotypes can be identified [77]. In this study, significant SNPs identified using GWAS, especially those within candidate genes for GLS resistance such as PZE-103142893 and PZE-109119001 can provide an important reference for functional marker development. These gene-derived functional markers would be the ideal tools for MAS breeding of GLS disease resistance in maize. In this study, 41,101 SNPs and phenotypic data for GLS resistance collected in 2010 and 2011 were used for a GWAS. As a result, 51 SNPs were significantly SAHA HDAC price (P < 0.001) associated with GLS resistance, and could be converted into 31 QTL. Three candidate genes are associated with plant defense, including NBS-LRR and STK genes similar to those known to be involved in basal defense [73], [74], [75] and [76]. Two genic SNPs (PZE-103142893 and PZE-109119001)

in chromosome bins 3.07 and 9.07, respectively, associated with GLS resistance, could be useful for MAS breeding of GLS resistance in maize. This study was jointly funded by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2012AA101104) and the Modern Agro-Industry

Technology Research System of Maize (CARS-02-02). “
“In winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), starch is an important part of the endosperm. SB-3CT Generally, starch contributes 65%–80% of the final dry weight and is considered a key component of grain weight [1]. The supply of assimilates to kernels originates from current assimilation transferred directly to kernels and from the remobilization of assimilates stored temporarily in vegetative plant parts [2]. It is reasonable to hypothesize that increasing starch accumulation and promoting dry matter remobilization will increase grain yield. Plant hormones play important roles in plant growth and yield formation [3]. ABA, one of the phytohormones, is gaining increased attention from researchers on crop growth. ABA is suggested to be involved in plant responses to stresses such as water stress [4] and [5] and heavy-metal stress [6]. A higher ABA level in growing kernels reduced the expression of genes responsible for metabolism of sucrose to ADP-glucose [7]. ABA regulates activities of key enzymes in starch synthesis and accumulation in kernels, including SS and SPS [8].