Rice is the most important cereal crop but is sensitive to salinity stress. Increased salinization is progressively reducing rice productivity, escalating calls for research to ensure sustainable food production. The genetic diversity available in cultivars provides a rich resource for discovering genes associated with salt tolerance which has not yet been sufficiently utilized. In this study, 54 QTLs associated with salt tolerance were detected through genome‐wide association study (GWAS) using a core population consisting of 181 cultivars. We detected 17 loci significantly associated with dry weight ratio (DWR) for salt tolerance. In the region of a novel QTL qST‐7.19 on chromosome 7, we identified a candidate gene encoding a multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) protein and further validated the effect by using near‐isogenic line of the candidate gene. These QTLs and the candidate gene pave the ways for salinity tolerance improvement through molecular breeding.

中文翻译：

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全基因组关联研究确定了赋予水稻耐盐性的QTL

水稻是最重要的谷物作物，但对盐分胁迫敏感。盐碱化程度的提高正在逐步降低大米的生产率，从而要求进行研究以确保可持续的粮食生产。品种中可利用的遗传多样性为发现尚未充分利用的与耐盐性有关的基因提供了丰富的资源。在这项研究中，通过全基因组关联研究（GWAS），使用由181个品种组成的核心群体，检测到54个与耐盐性相关的QTL。我们检测到17个与耐盐性干重比（DWR）显着相关的基因座。在新型QTL qST‐7.19范围内在第7号染色体上，我们鉴定了编码多药和有毒化合物挤压（MATE）蛋白的候选基因，并通过使用该候选基因的近等基因系进一步验证了这种作用。这些QTL和候选基因为通过分子育种提高盐度耐受性铺平了道路。