Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for human, and improving Zn concentration in rice could be a simple and effective way to solve insufficient Zn uptake from daily diet. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was developed from a commercial hybrid combination Wandao153, and subjected to quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection for Zn concentration in brown rice and heading date. Five QTL for Zn concentration and six for heading date were detected across 2 years, among which two QTL for Zn concentration and two for heading date were co-located on chromosome 7 and 8, respectively. The two co-located QTL on chromosome 7, qZn7 and qHd7, were likely to be Ghd7, a major gene for heading date and yield potential in rice. A combination of Zn concentration analysis and haplotype analysis of three pairs of genetic materials for Ghd7 revealed that it is a negative regulator of Zn concentration in brown rice. The other two co-located QTL on chromosome 8, qZn8 and qHd8, were likely to be Ghd8/DTH8, another major gene for heading date and yield potential in rice. These results could be of great use in genetic improvement of Zn concentration in brown rice.

锌是人体必需的微量营养素，提高稻米中的锌​​浓度可能是解决日常饮食中锌摄入不足的简单有效方法。在这项研究中，从商业杂交组合Wandao153开发了一个重组自交系（RIL）群体，并对其进行了定量性状位点（QTL）检测，以检测糙米中的锌浓度和抽穗期。在2年中检测到5个Zn浓度QTL和6个抽穗期QTL，其中2个Zn浓度QTL和2个抽穗期QTL分别位于染色体7和8号。在7号染色体qZn7和qHd7上同位的两个QTL可能是Ghd7，是水稻抽穗期和产量潜力的主要基因。Zn浓度分析和三对Ghd7基因材料的单倍型分析的组合显示，它是糙米中Zn浓度的负调节剂。另外两个位于8号染色体qZn8和qHd8上的QTL可能是Ghd8 / DTH8，这是水稻抽穗期和产量潜力的另一个主要基因。这些结果可能对糙米中锌浓度的遗传改良有很大的帮助。