Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42168875›Full record

ArticleBMC plant biology2026

Genome-wide association study dissects the genetic architecture of kernel rate and its component traits in maize.

Wenlong Li, Haiyang Duan, Xinyu Sun, Jihong Zhang, Yuehua Zhao, Jiawen Zhao, Hongyu Chen, Xiaoyang Chen, Dong Ding, Jihua Tang and 2 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC plant biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Wenlong Li *State Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Haiyang Duan *State Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Xinyu SunState Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Jihong ZhangState Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Yuehua ZhaoState Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Jiawen ZhaoState Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Hongyu ChenState Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Xiaoyang ChenState Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Dong DingState Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Jihua TangState Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Jianbing YanNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Xuehai ZhangState Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China. xuehai85@126.com.

Funding

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2025M773989Excellent Youth Foundation of Henan Scientific Committee 252300421036Henan Province Science and Technology Attack Project 232102111108Henan Province Science and Technology Attack Project 262102110259Henan Provincial Natural Science Foundation Young Student Project 252300423957Joint Foundation for Science and Technology Research and Development Program of Henan Province 242301420131Key research and development projects of Henan Province 251111111000Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province 262300421272
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Kernel rate (KR), the ratio of kernel to ear weight, serves as a key metric of assimilate partitioning efficiency and determines single-ear yield stability under high planting densities. Despite its critical role in modern intensive agriculture, the genetic architecture of KR remains largely elusive. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for KR and its component traits-ear weight (EW), kernel weight (KW), and cob weight (CW)-using a diverse panel of 502 maize inbred lines across seven environments. Phenotypic profiling revealed substantial variation and high heritability. Leveraging 10.77 million high-quality SNPs, we identified 202 significant associations, which were refined into 106 quantitative trait loci (QTL), each explaining 5%-12% of the phenotypic variance. Notably, four QTL hotspots exhibited co-located across multiple traits and environments, indicative of pleiotropic regulation. Integration of gene annotation with transcriptomic profiles narrowed these loci to 308 genes. Subsequent haplotype analysis prioritized two high-confidence candidates: ZmKR1 (encoding pentatricopeptide repeat protein, PPR, essential for kernel development) and ZmKR2 (encoding meiotic recombination 11b, a DNA repair component). Specifically, favorable haplotype (Hap1) of ZmKR1 and ZmKR2 (Hap1) were significantly associated with elevated KR. Furthermore, evolutionary analysis revealed that these two genes have been selected at domestication. Our findings provide comprehensive genetic dissection of KR and its components, offering fundamental insights into the regulation of assimilate partitioning and delivering valuable gene resources for breeding maize varieties with improved yield stability under high-density conditions.

Indexed as

SeedsZea maysGenome-Wide Association StudyHaplotypesPhenotypePolymorphism, Single NucleotideQuantitative Trait LociGenetic architectureHigh-density plantingKernel rateMaizeModern breeding

Identifiers

PMID42168875
PMCPMC13471505

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