The morphology of rice (Oryza sativa L.) panicles is an important determinant of grain yield, and elucidation of the genetic control of panicle structure is very important for fulfilling the demand for high yield in breeding programs. In a quantitative trait locus (QTL) study using 82 backcross inbred lines (BILs) derived from Koshihikari and Habataki, 68 QTLs for 25 panicle morphological traits were identified. Gene expression profiling from inflorescence meristems of BILs was obtained. A combination of phenotypic QTL (pQTL) and expression QTL (eQTL) analysis revealed co‐localization between pQTLs and eQTLs, consistent with significant correlations between phenotypic traits and gene expression levels. By combining pQTL and eQTL data, two genes were identified as controlling panicle structure: OsMADS18 modulates the average length of the primary rachis and OsFTL1 has pleiotropic effects on the total number of secondary rachides, number of grains per panicle, plant height and the length of flag leaves. Phenotypes were confirmed in RNA interference knocked‐down plants and overexpressor lines. The combination of pQTL and eQTL analysis could facilitate identification of genes involved in rice panicle formation.

中文翻译：

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全基因组表达定量性状基因座研究促进了控制穗结构的因果基因的分离。

大米的形态（稻L.）圆锥花序是籽粒产量的重要决定因素，和穗结构的遗传控制的阐明为满足对在育种程序高产率的需求非常重要的。在定量特征性位点（QTL）研究中，使用了82个来自越光和Habataki的回交自交系（BIL），确定了68个QTL，这些QTL具有25种穗状形态特征。从BIL的花序分生组织获得基因表达谱。表型QTL（pQTL）和表达QTL（eQTL）分析的结合揭示了pQTL和eQTL之间的共定位，与表型性状和基因表达水平之间的显着相关性一致。通过结合pQTL和eQTL数据，两个基因被确定为控制穗结构：OsMADS18调节初级叶片的平均长度，而OsFTL1对次级叶片的总数，每穗粒数，植物高度和旗叶长度具有多效性。在RNA干扰敲除的植物和过表达株中证实了表型。pQTL和eQTL分析的结合可以促进鉴定与水稻穗形成有关的基因。