JP2001517951A - Methods for identification and breeding of corn with increased grain oil concentration - Google Patents

Abstract

  (57) [Summary] Breeding methods using high oil corn germplasm are disclosed. The method requires the use of genetic marker traits associated with trait loci that control kernel oil concentrations. These genetic marker traits are used to select for grain oil concentrations in the breeding population. A method for selecting a complementary oil parent source, possibly using genetic marker traits that produce superior progeny, is also disclosed. A trait locus that controls corn kernel oil levels is also disclosed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Methods of Identifying and Breeding Maize with Increased Grain Oil Concentration Field of the Invention The present invention is in the field of plant breeding and molecular biology. More specifically, the present invention relates to the identification of corn loci that provide increased kernel oil concentrations using genetic marker traits and as an aid to the identification and breeding of corn with increased kernel oil concentrations. For the use of genetic marker traits. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Corn is a major crop used as a source of human food, animal feed, and a source of carbohydrates, oils, proteins and fibers. It is used primarily as an energy source in animal feed or as a raw material for the recovery of starch, protein feed fractions, fiber, side-milled corn, flaking grits and oil. Most commercial corn produced throughout the United States is produced from hybrid seed. The production of maize hybrids requires the development of elite maize inbreds that yield excellent agronomic hybrids upon intermating. During the development of maize inbreds, plant breeders select for a number of different traits that affect agronomic performance. These traits include, but are not limited to, stem strength, lodging, disease resistance, grain moisture and grain yield. Cropological traits tend to be measured quantitatively in a continuous rather than independent distribution. It is theorized that quantitative traits are controlled by several genes that are small and generally have equivalent effects. Furthermore, the phenotype observed is due in part to this genetic and environmental component. The heritability of a trait is broadly defined as the ratio of genetic variation to overall phenotypic variation. Many agronomic traits exhibit low heritability; that is, the ability of the parent plant is a poor predictor of offspring ability. Thus, low heritability traits have a small genetic variation compared to the observed mutations. The effect on plant breeders is that the value of the genetic composition of a plant in a breeding population is difficult to determine from agronomic trait measurements. In an attempt to maximize their discriminatory ability, breeders collect multiple measurements from both individuals and many environments associated by descent. This strategy uses resources intensively. Because it involves the use of extensive trials to make even the small gains of plant improvement. This, combined with the fact that improved corn lines are selected for multiple traits simultaneously, makes the development of excellent maize inbreds both a time-consuming and expensive task. The addition of new traits in a maize breeding program places an additional burden on plant breeders. Depending on the genetic complexity of the novel trait (ie, a single gene versus many genes), a significant increase in time and effort is required to generate a selected line containing the novel trait. One such trait is kernel oil concentration. Maize with increased grain oil concentration can be found in poultry (Han Y. et al. (1977) Poultry Sci. 66: 103-111) and livestock (Nordstrom, JW) et al. (1972). ) J. An. Sci 35 (2): 357-361) is important for retaining improved feed value. Grains from conventional corn hybrids typically contain 4% oil. In an effort to increase kernel oil concentrations, a long-term recurring selection program was launched in 1896 with a naturally pollinated (cv.) Burr's White by Hopkins. This repetitively selected population, known as Illinois High Oil (IHO), has been selected for increased oil concentrations using modified population selection for over 90 generations (Dudley ( Dudley, JW) and Lambert (RJ. Lambert) (1992) Maydica 37: 1-7). As a result, oil concentrations increased by more than 20% in this population. Germplasm was rarely used. Because the derived material had a substantially lower yield than conventional varieties (Alexander, DE (1988) Proc. 43rd Ann. Corn and Sorghum Res. Conf. Am. Seed Trade Assoc., Washington DC, pp97-105). Using 38 naturally pollinated cultivars and synthetics, Alexander launches a second iterative selection program (Alexho complex) to increase grain oil (Alexander, DE (1988) Corn and Corn Improvement, edited by Sprague and JW. Dudley, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, Pp 869-880). Oil concentrations equivalent to IHO were achieved in 28 cycles using single ear oil concentration-based selection and later generations using single kernel oil concentration-based selection. The yield capacity of Alexho-derived material in single cross hybrids (high oil inbreeds x conventional inbreeds) is likely due to the greater genetic variability initially available due to the IHO However, the performance was not as good as that of conventional hybrids, although it was improved. The development of agronomically selected maize germplasm that also contains increased grain oil concentrations is clearly a challenge using conventional plant breeding methods. Grain oil concentration can be measured phenotypically using a variety of analytical methods. Oil concentration represents a non-discrete distribution common to quantitatively inherited traits controlled by several loci. Grain oil measurement selects breeding lines with the highest phenotypic expression. Unfortunately, the genetic potential for high oils is limited in most of these lines. This is because it is not possible to identify strains based on their true genetic composition. This situation is exacerbated when simultaneous selection for agronomic performance is performed. Therefore, it may be advantageous to base the selection on the genotype of the plants in the population. Genetic marker traits, especially nucleic acid markers, may be used to advantage as an indirect selection method for complex quantitative traits. Genetic marker traits that identify alleles conferring enhanced oil therefore appear to be an advantageous tool for plant breeding programs to develop select high oil corn germplasm. Published information on identifying genetic marker traits that predict increased oil yield is limited. Kahler (Kahler, AL) (1985) Proc. 40th Ann. Corn and Sorghum Res. Conf. Am. Seed Trade Assoc., Washington, DC, pp. 66-89. Changes in isozyme allele frequency after 25 cycles of selection were determined and eight significant loci were found. Most of the changes in the frequency of these alleles are also significant for tests that measure random genetic drift, concluding that allele-based selection of these isozymes may be useful Made it difficult. More recently, Goldman et al. (Goldman, IL, et al. (1994) Crop Sci. 34: 908-915) and Berke and Rocheford (Berke, TG and Rock Ford (Rocheford, TR) (1995) Crop Sci. 35: 1542-1549) uses RFLP labeling to identify significant marker loci related to oil concentration in the Illinois long-term selection population. Identified. These studies identified 25 and 31 markers, respectively, in a population from Burr's White that were significantly associated with increased oil. Some of the regions identified by significant RFLP label loci may be common between the two studies; however, of the 15 RFLP labels used in both studies, six There was disagreement about their effects. In these studies, the population used was from a common ancestor (Burr's White); however, these populations were screened for different traits (oil and protein) over many generations . It is not surprising that many of the identified oil loci appear to be unique to each population analyzed. Therefore, it is desirable to identify genetic marker traits that uniquely predict germplasm used in breeding programs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A method is disclosed for reliable and predictive breeding of maize with increased grain oil concentration. The method comprises the steps of: a) using one or more genetic marker traits to select a corn plant from a maize breeding population by marker-assisted selection (where the genetic marker trait is selected). Are s1375, s1384, s1394, s1416, s1422, s1432, s1457, s1480, s1476, s1478, s1484, s1500, s1513, s1529, s1544, s1545, s1630, s1633, s1647, s1750, s1756, s1775, s1767, s1767, s1767, s1767, s1767, s1767, s1767, s1767, s1774, s1780, s1797, s1813, s1816, s1817, s1836, s1853, s1860, s1870, s1921, s1922, s1925, s1931, s1933, s19 9, s1946, s1949, s2054, s2055, s2057, s2058, s2097, s2122, s2125, s2150, s2156 and s2175); and b) converting the selected corn plant to a second corn. Crossing with a plant (where the progeny of the cross is indicative of an increased kernel oil concentration). A preferred source of high oil corn germplasm is a member of the Alexho synthetic population or a descendant thereof. Also disclosed is a method of identifying a corn plant or corn line for use as a parent in creating a breeding population, the method comprising the steps of: a) identifying the genotype of the corn plant or corn line with one or more genetic marker traits; Genotyping, wherein the genetic marker traits are s1375, s1384, s1394, s1416, s1422, s1432, s1457, s1480, s1476, s1478, s1484, s1500, s1513, s1529, s1544. S1545, s1630, s1633, s1647, s1750, s1756, s1557, s1767, s1772, s1774, s1780, s1797, s1813, s1816, s1817, s1836, s1853, s1860, s 1870, s1921, s1922, s1925, s1931, s1933, s1939, s1946, s1949, s2054, s2055, s2057, s2058, s2097, s2122, s2125, s2150, s2156 and s2175; and b) grain oil Identifying maize plants or maize lines that are predicted to produce transcendental isolates for concentrations based on their genotype. The present invention provides methods for identifying and selecting for genes that control increased corn kernel oil concentrations. These oil alleles were initially identified in materials that consisted or were derived from the Alexho synthetic breeding population. Furthermore, the method facilitates the use of this high oil material in breeding programs aimed at developing new high oil corn germplasm. In particular, the method uses genetic marker traits to predict the oil breeding value of a line in a corn breeding program. Indirect selection of oil loci using these markers selects the line with the greatest genetic potential for increased kernel oil concentration. According to the method, any type of genetic marker trait may be used to identify an association with kernel oil concentration. The method is only limited by the ability to measure polymorphism at a given marker locus. One skilled in the art will recognize that the various genetic marker traits that can be used include restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), simple sequence repeat (SSR), AFLP, various simple It can be appreciated that this includes, but is not limited to, single base pair detection methods, allozymes and phenotypic labels. SSR labels useful in the practice of the present method include s1375, s1384, s1394, s1416, s1422, s1432, s1457, s1476, s1478, s1480, s1484, s1500, s1513, s1529, s1544, s1545, s1630, s1633, s1647, s1750, s1756, s1757, s1767, s1772, s1774, s1780, s1797, s181 3, s1816, s1817, s1836, s1853, s1860, s1870, s1921, s1922, s1925, s1931, s1933, s1939, s1939 s1949, s2054, s2055, s2057, s2058, s2097, s2122, s2125, s2150, s2156 and s2175 Encompasses. A further aspect of the invention is a trait locus that regulates the expression of corn kernel oil levels. These loci are identified and defined (ie, located on chromosomes) by the marker loci of the present invention. An additional aspect of the present invention is a corn plant and high oil corn germplasm produced using the breeding method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Table 1 provides a brief description of the genetic marker traits that form part of the present invention. Each label is defined by its constituent nucleic acid primers (forward and reverse) that facilitate amplification of a particular marker locus in the corn genome. The required identifier for each sequence is also indicated. The identifiers listed in Table 1 correspond to those listed in the Sequence Listing (below) as required by reference to the Code of Federal Regulations, Article 37, §1.821 et seq. For the purposes of the present invention, we define the following terms: That is, corn. Any cultivar, cultivar or group of corn (Zea mays L.). Of choice. The term describes characteristics of plants or varieties that possess favorable traits such as, but not limited to, high yield, good grain quality and disease resistance. This allows its use in the commercial production of at a profitable seeds or grains. The term also describes the characteristics of the parent that gives rise to such plants or varieties. High oil corn germplasm. The term is used to refer to grains produced by non-high oil germplasm when either self-pollinated or used as either male or female parents in various outcrossing combinations. Characterize corn plants that produce grains with increased oil when done. Examples of high oil corn germplasm include, but are not limited to, naturally pollinated varieties, hybrids, synthetics, inbred lines, breeds (races) and populations or corn plants from one of the above. . Varieties or cultivars. These terms refer to a group of similar plants that can be identified from other varieties or cultivars within the same species by structural characteristics and performance. system. The term refers to a group of individuals from a common ancestry; a group defined more narrowly than a variant. Composite. The term refers to the genetic heterogeneity of plants of known ancestry created by intercrossing of inbreeding hybrids, hybrids, varieties, populations, races, or any combination of other synthetics. Collection. Inbred mating. The term refers to an essentially homozygous individual, variety or line. Recombinant inbred hybrid. A population of independently generated lines developed by repeatedly self-pollinating each generation until complete homozygosity is approached. Each recombinant inbred is generated from a single F2 plant using a breeding method commonly referred to as a single seed descent. breeding. The technology and science of improving certain plants or animals through controlled genetic manipulation. Signage assistance selection. Use of genetic marker traits to identify and select plants with excellent phenotypic potential. The genetic marker trait or traits previously determined to be associated with a trait locus or trait loci are identified at the trait locus by linkage between the marker locus and the trait locus. Used to determine genotype. Plants containing alleles of the desired trait are selected on the basis of their genotype at the linked marker locus. Alexho composite. A repeatedly selected high oil corn germplasm developed by Alexon at the University of Illinois. Alexho composite high oil corn germplasm is composed of multiple composite populations defined by their cycle of progression of a recurrent selection breeding program. Breeding groups. A genetically heterogeneous collection of plants created for the purpose of identifying one or more individuals with the desired phenotypic characteristics. Expression value. Observed expression of one or more plant characteristics. Phenotypic value. A measure of the expected expression of an allele at a trait locus. The phenotypic value of an allele at a trait locus is dependent on the strength of its expression relative to the alternative allele. The phenotypic value of an individual, and hence the potential of that phenotype, is based on its overall genotype composition at all loci for a given trait. Transcendental separator. An individual whose phenotype exceeds the phenotypic variation predicted by the parent. Genetic marker trait. Any morphological, biochemical or nucleic acid based phenotypic differences indicative of DNA polymorphism. Examples of genetic marker traits include, but are not limited to, RFLP, RAPD, allozyme, SSR and AFLP. Marker loci. Genetically specified location of the DNA polymorphism as indicated by the genetic marker trait. Trait loci. A genetically specified location for a collection of one or more genes (alleles) that contribute to the observed feature. Genotype. Allele composition of an individual at the genetic loci under study. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). DNA-based genetic marker traits (Botstein, D., et al., 1980. Am. J. Hum. Genet.), Where differences in size of DNA fragments caused by restriction endonucleases are observed via hybridization. 3 2: 314-331). Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). DNA amplification-based genetic marker traits (Williams JGK et al. 1990) in which short, sequence-arbitrary primers are used and the resulting amplification products are separated in size and differences in amplification pattern are observed. Nucleic Acids Res. 18: 6531-6535). Simple sequence repeat (SSR). DNA amplification-based genetic marker traits in which short stretches of tandemly repeated sequence motifs are amplified and the resulting amplification products are separated in size and differences in nucleotide repeat length are observed. (Tautz D. 1989. Nucleic Acids Res. 112: 4127-4138). AFLP. DNA amplification-based genetic marker traits (Vos, P. et al. 1995) in which a DNA fragment produced by a restriction endonuclease is ligated to a short DNA fragment that facilitates the amplification of a restricted DNA fragment. Nucleic Acids Res. 23: 440 7-4414). The amplified fragments are separated by size and differences in amplification pattern are observed. Allozyme. Enzyme variants separated by electrophoresis and detected via staining for enzyme activity (Stuber, CW) and Goodman (MM. Goodman. 1983. USDA Agric. Res. Results, Southern Ser., No.16). The present invention relates to the discovery of trait loci that control kernel oil concentrations by using genetic marker traits. In populations where mutations were present for both grain oil concentration and alleles of the genetic marker traits, genotypes based on oil measurements and labeling were generated for members of the population. Using the least squares method, the locations of the oil concentration loci were determined with respect to markers genetically linked to these trait loci. Indirect selection of preferred oil loci can now be performed using information on one or more linked genetic marker traits. The selected corn plants comprise one or more alleles encoding a high oil phenotype. It is recognized that several different populations and population types can be used to locate a trait locus of interest. Some of the population types include, but are not limited to, recombinant inbreds, backcrosses, F2 or self-pollinated or intercrossed derivatives thereof, and synthetics. In addition, it is understood that one alternative to measuring phenotype and genotype variation within a population is to measure genotype and phenotype between populations. In this alternative, the second population is a selected derivative of the first population, where the selection is for either the trait of interest (phenotype selection) or a particular marker allele (genotype selection). It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that alternative statistical approaches can be used to determine linkage between the marker locus and the trait locus. Examples The present invention is further defined in the following examples. It should be understood that these examples are provided as specific illustrations only, illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention. From the above discussion and these examples, those skilled in the art will be able to ascertain the essential features of the invention and make various changes and modifications in the invention without departing from its spirit and scope. It can be adapted to laws and conditions. Example 1 Measurement of the Development and Traits of a Local Population of Loci That Provide Elevated Kernel Oil Concentrations Two Relatives Developed by Holden's Foundation Seed Co., Williamsberg, Iowa Crossbred maize lines, LH119wx and LH51, were deposited with the synthetic population ASKC 28wx (American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, MD; accession number AT CC 75105) (waxy kernels). Was highly expressed in ASKC28, and in that sense I independently referred to ASKC28 as waxy) and crossed independently with individual plants. F1 plants were selfed and the resulting F2 population was grown. Individual F2 plants were selfed and the resulting kernels were grown using six generations of selfed single seed lines (S6) to give rise to recombinant inbred lines. Up to 20 grains from the S6 generation were grown and self-pollinated to give rise to the S7 ears clan representing each recombinant inbred line. The oil value is measured by the near-infrared transmittance (Williams (PC) (1987) Near Infrared Technology in the Agricultural and Food Industries; Williams (PC. Williams) and C. Norris (eds.) American Association of Grain Chemists ( The American Association of Cereal Chemists)) was used to measure each ear in the family. Genotyping Ten seeds from a single ear, representing 194 (LH119wx x ASKC28wx) or 204 (LH51 x ASKC28wx) recombinant inbred lines, respectively, were germinated on wet filter paper. . Root sections were removed from germinated seeds, pooled for each ear and extracted using an automated DNA extraction machine. This instrument is a modification of Murray and Thompson's CTAB treatment (Murray, M.G.) and Thompson, WF (1980) Nucl. Acids Res. 8: 4321-4325. use. DNA samples were quantified via fluorescence using iodide YoPro-1 ™ (Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, Oreg.) And diluted to 4 μg / ml. The SSR region of each DNA sample was analyzed using the following protocol. 1. Add 10 μl of amplification cocktail (see Table 2) to 5 μl (20 ng) of extracted DNA; The DNA fragments flanked by sequences complementary to the primers present in the amplification cocktail were prepared using the following protocol: 1) 45 cycles of 50 seconds at 95 ° C, 50 seconds at 54 ° C and 80 seconds at 72 ° C, and 2 2.) Amplification by PCR (US Pat. No. 4,683,202 and US Pat. No. 4,683,195) using one cycle at 72 ° C. for 300 seconds; Approximately 8 μl of each sample was loaded on an agarose gel composed of 2% Metaphor (FMC Corp., Rockland, Maine), 1 × TBE and 0.5 μg / ml ethidium bromide, 3. Electrophoresis for 2 hours at 6.1 V / cm in a horizontal electrophoresis apparatus supplemented with 1 × TBE buffer and 0.5 μg / ml ethidium bromide; DNA bands were visualized by UV fluorescence. Estimation of Oil Locus Genotyping of recombinant inbred hybrids from the LH119wx x ASKC28w x cross using 133 polymorphic SSR-labeled loci and also using 103 polymorphic SSR-labeled loci The population generated from LH51 × ASKC28wx was then genotyped. In addition, 20 publicly available polymorphic SSR loci with previously established chromosomal locations and encompassing all 10 maize chromosomes (Research Genetics, Huntsville, Alabama) (Available) was also located on the chromosome in both populations. The distance between the gene linkage and the labeled loci was determined independently for each population using MapMaker 3.0 (Lincoln, SE, et al. (1993) Whitehead Inst. Biomed. Res., Cambridge, Mass.). Were determined. This resulted in the establishment of 10 linkage groups in each population corresponding to the 10 chromosomes of maize. Each linkage group was assigned to one chromosome based on linkage to a public SSR marker. The 23 and 10 markers, respectively, in the LH119wx × ASKC28wx and LH51 × ASKC28wx populations were not assigned chromosomal locations because gene linkage could not be clearly established. Analysis of variance was used to identify marker loci in linkage with trait loci that give increased oil concentrations. Oil concentration was used as an independent variable, and separate ANOVA was calculated using SAS Proc GLM (SAS Inst., Cary, NC) using each marker locus as a single dependent variable. (Edwards, MD, et al. (1987) Genetics 116: 113-125). Therefore, the average oil values of the labeled allele classes were compared for each ANOVA test. Label loci were declared significant when p <0.05. The linkage data of the significant marker loci was examined to determine both the number of trait loci present and their likely location. Significant marker loci in the same linkage group either detect the same trait locus or are alternatively different trait loci. Careful examination of the phenotypic variation described by each marker locus along the chromosome made a determination of the number of trait genes in the linkage group. Significant marker loci on the same linkage group and interrupted by insignificant marker loci were declared as detecting identical trait loci on the chromosome. If significant marker loci on the same chromosome were interrupted by insignificant marker loci, each significant region would be declared to contain one trait locus resulting in multiple trait loci on the same chromosome did. To confirm the number of trait loci, label data and oil data assigned to linkage groups were mapped to MapMaker / QTL1.0 (Lincoln, SE, et al. (1990) Whitehead Inst. Biomed. Res., Cambridge, Mass.). Results with MapMaker / QTL were consistent with initial analysis for the number of trait loci on each chromosome. Eleven and twelve loci controlling grain oil concentration were located in the LH119wx x ASKC28wx and LH51 x ASKC28wx recombinant inbred populations, respectively. Each oil locus is defined by one or more linked marker loci. Linkage group alignment is possible if the same marker locus is used in both populations. It was found that in most cases both populations localized the same oil locus. By considering common marker loci, a total of 17 loci controlling grain oil concentration were found. Each oil locus was assigned a discretionary letter designation (Table 3). If a comparison could be made, the oil loci identified in one population were identified at the same location in a second population. With two exceptions, one oil locus was found in one population, but not in a second population. In the first case, an allele with a positive oil effect was found in LH51, and it was therefore unexpected to identify the same locus in the LH119wx × ASKC28wx population. Would. In the second case, it was found that the labeled alleles derived from the various ASKC28wx were segregated in the population; therefore, each population was affected by the oil effects of the different ASKC28wx alleles at this trait locus. Was measured. The most abundant ASKC28wx oil allele segregating in LH119wx × A SKC28wx had a positive oil effect on the allele generated from the alternative LH119, while the LH51 × ASKC28wx population had a rich ASKC28wx allele. The gene had no positive oil effect. Except for the oil locus linked to tag s1480, all alleles with a positive effect on oil concentration were from ASKC28wx. Example 2 Marker-Assisted Selection of Breeding Lines Using Increased Kernel Oil Concentration Gene Markers The genetic marker trait loci in linkage with the oil trait loci highly predict oil concentration, and In that sense, it can be used as an indirect measure of kernel oil in tag-assisted selection programs. Thus, genotypic information from linked marker loci would facilitate selection of breeding lines with increased oil concentrations. Direct oil measurements cannot identify the composition of trait loci of various genotypes with equivalent phenotypic effects. This is particularly problematic in the early generational segregation of breeding populations in which only limited fixation of oil loci has occurred. As an example, one goal of a corn breeding program could be the creation of new select inbred lines containing trait alleles that give increased kernel oil concentrations. These trait alleles are likely to be introduced by high oil germplasm intercrossing with one or more selected maize inbreds. The resulting hybrids can be self-pollinated to give rise to an F2 population for the purpose of initiating a conventional pedigree breeding program (Allard, RW (1960) Principles of Plant Breeding. John Wiley). And Sands, Inc. (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), New York, pp 115-128). To identify F2 individuals with the desired genotype, plant tissue could be collected from each F2 individual in the population and genotyped using the SSR-marked loci listed in Table 1. The highest frequency F2 individuals of the SSR-tagged allele from high oil sources could be selected and further screened on the basis of their agronomic suitability. With continued inbreeding and segregation, the heterozygous oil locus could become fixed for either the high or low oil allele. Thus, it can be seen that genotyping and selection of later generations of material can be performed to further isolate breeding lines based on the composition of their labeled alleles, and therefore oil alleles. Depending on the size of the population and the ability to accidentally discover the unexpected, inbreds resulting from lineage breeding programs may not demonstrate sufficient agronomic competitiveness or sufficient grain oil expression. Because an insufficient number of oil alleles were recovered. These new inbreds can therefore be used as parent material and new breeding projects can be started. The SSR label can again be used for further selection of the oil as described. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations on the selection methodology will be foreseen. Selection will be based on the allelic composition of one or more marker loci that identify the oil loci for the trait present in a population. Further selection will be performed by genotyping and selection from individual plants, clan or their progeny. A variety of predictive models can be developed using genotype information, which can result in a variety of selection indices. These models can be considered to allow for the weighing of the effects predicted by the marker loci. This is because the predicted value of an individual marker locus is dependent on its genetic distance from the corresponding trait locus, as well as the expressivity of that trait locus. Selection strategies that combine phenotype-based and genotype-based selection may also be envisioned. The marker loci presented here predict oil loci in the Alexho composite population. Since ASKC28wx represents the 28th oil breeding cycle of a genetically closed population, earlier breeding cycles are composed of the same oil loci. Cycles are expected to simply differ in their allele frequencies at the identified oil loci. Thus, in breeding populations resulting from earlier Alexho cycles, the marker loci described in the present invention would be useful in identifying oil loci and predicting oil concentrations. Example 3 Identification of Maize Plants for Use as Parents for Production of Transcendental Isolates for Grain Oil Concentration Has the Greatest Potential to Produce Progeny with Excellent Performance When Used as Parents It is important to identify corn plants and lines. Offspring of such parental transcendental isolates is likely to result from parental crosses with a complementary set of alleles conferring a high oil phenotype. Using the information provided herein, tag alleles are known that predict the performance of a desired trait (ie, high oil) at a given marker locus. Genotyping strains at their marker loci indicates the value of those strains as parents. For example, if one wants to create an individual containing superior alleles at five independent oil loci (AE), the parent composed of the desired alleles at loci A, B, and C can be used. Can be identified and crossed with a parent composed of the desired allele at B, D and E. These parents are complementary as they allow the recovery of progeny containing the desired allele at all five loci. Ideally, the parent that, when combined, ensures the greatest complementation of the locus will be chosen, so that a high frequency of the desired recombinant is recovered.

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. a) using one or more genetic marker traits by marker-assisted selection Selecting a corn plant from a maize breeding population, where a genetic marker The trait is s1375, s1384, s1394, s1416, s1422, s 1432, s1457, s1480, s1476, s1478, s1484, s 1500, s1513, s1529, s1544, s1545, s1630, s 1633, s1647, s1750, s1756, s1557, s1767, s 1772, s1774, s1780, s1797, s1813, s1816, s 1817, s1836, s1853, s1860, s1870, s1921, s 1922, s1925, s1931, s1933, s1939, s1946, s 1949, s2054, s2055, s2057, s2058, s2097, s The group consisting of 2122, s2125, s2150, s2156 and s2175 Is selected from; and b) crossing the selected corn plant with a second corn plant; Here progeny maize plants of the cross show increased grain oil concentrations , A method of breeding corn with increased grain oil concentration comprising: 2. Selected maize plants are members of the Alexho synthetic population Or the method of claim 1, which is a progeny thereof. 3. Maize plant for use as a parent for the creation of a breeding population or A method for identifying a corn line, the method comprising: a) maize plant or corn with one or more genetic marker traits Determining the genotype of a Koshi line, wherein the genetic marker trait is s1375, s1384, s1394, s1416, s1422, s1432, s1457, s1480, s1476, s1478, s1484, s1500, s1513, s1529, s1544, s1545, s1630, s1633, s1647, s1750, s1756, s1557, s1767, s1772, s1774, s1780, s1797, s1813, s1816, s1817, s1836, s1853, s1860, s1870, s1921, s1922, s1925, s1931, s1933, s1939, s1946, s1949, s2054, s2055, s2057, s2058, s2097, s2122, selected from the group consisting of s2125, s2150, s2156 and s2175 That is; and b) Producing transcendental isolates for grain oil concentration based on their genotype Identifying a corn plant or corn line expected as A method comprising: 4. A trait locus controlling grain oil concentration, wherein the locus is s2054, group consisting of s1647, s1500, s1545, s1774 and s2097 A locus located on a chromosome by one genetic marker trait selected from: 5. A trait locus controlling grain oil concentration, wherein the locus is s1817 or On the chromosome by one genetic marker trait selected from the group consisting of The locus that is positioned. 6. A trait locus that controls grain oil concentration, wherein the locus is s1860, selected from the group consisting of s1931, s2150 and s1925 Locus located on the chromosome by one of the genetic marker traits. 7. A trait locus controlling grain oil concentration, wherein the locus is s1457; s2055, s1557, s2125, s1780, s1375, s1797, one type of inheritance selected from the group consisting of s1416, s1432 and s1921 A locus located on the chromosome by the marker trait. 8. A trait locus controlling grain oil concentration, wherein the locus is s1544; s1633, s1384, s1813, s1767, s2058, s1933, one genetic marker trait selected from the group consisting of s1513 and s1484; Loci located on the chromosome. 9. A trait locus that controls grain oil concentration, wherein the locus is s1476, selected from the group consisting of s1772, s1816, s2122 and s1836. A locus located on a chromosome by one genetic marker trait. 10. A trait locus controlling grain oil concentration, wherein the locus is s1939. Chromosome by one genetic marker trait selected from the group consisting of Loci located in 11. A trait locus controlling grain oil concentration, wherein the locus is s1478. S1853 and s1949, one genetic marker trait selected from the group consisting of A locus located more on a chromosome. 12. A trait locus controlling grain oil concentration, wherein the locus is s1630 S1122 and s2156, one genetic marker trait selected from the group consisting of A locus located more on a chromosome. 13. A trait locus that controls grain oil concentration, A locus located on the chromosome by the transgenic trait s1756. 14． A trait locus that controls grain oil concentration, where the locus is a genetic marker Locus located on the chromosome by quality s1922. 15. A trait locus that controls grain oil concentration, where the locus is a genetic marker Locus located on chromosome by quality s1529. 16. A trait locus that controls grain oil concentration, where the locus is a genetic marker Locus located on the chromosome by quality s1394. 17． A trait locus that controls grain oil concentration, where the locus is a genetic marker Locus located on the chromosome by quality s1750. 18. A trait locus that controls grain oil concentration, where the locus is a genetic marker Locus located on chromosome by quality s1870. 19. A trait locus that controls grain oil concentration, and the locus is a genetic marker Locus located on chromosome by quality s2175. 20. A tow exhibiting increased kernel oil concentration produced by the method of claim 1. Sorghum plant.