Maize leaf length, leaf width, leaf angle, and leaf orientation value are determinant traits influencing leaf shape, yield potential, and can sense water stress signals. However, little is known regarding their genetic controls under drought stress. Using two F₃ populations, we identified 72 QTLs under contrasting environments at V18 and R1 stages by single-environment mapping, 58.3% QTLs were identified under drought-stressed environments. Thirty-three joint QTLs were detected by joint analysis of all environments, 7 QTLs involved in QTL-by-environment interactions, 11 pair epistasis exhibited additive-by-additive effects. Twelve constitutive QTLs were dissected that will be potentially useful for genetic improvement of maize leaf development through QTL pyramiding. Additionally, 13 meta-QTLs were identified via meta-analysis, 15 candidate genes were identified in these meta-QTLs. These results provide valuable information for QTLs fine mapping, revealing genetic mechanisms of leaf shape under contrasting watering environments, and alleles provide useful targets for marker-assisted selection breeding.

玉米叶片长度，叶片宽度，叶片角度和叶片取向值是影响叶片形状，产量潜力并能感应水分胁迫信号的决定性特征。然而，关于它们在干旱胁迫下的遗传控制知之甚少。使用两个F ₃通过单环境作图，我们在V18和R1阶段的对比环境下确定了72个QTL，在干旱胁迫环境下确定了58.3％的QTL。通过对所有环境的联合分析，共检测到33个联合QTL，其中7个参与了QTL与环境之间的相互作用，11对上位性表现出逐加效应。解剖了十二个组成性QTL，这将可能有助于通过QTL金字塔遗传改良玉米叶片发育的遗传。此外，通过荟萃分析鉴定出13个meta-QTL，在这些meta-QTL中鉴定了15个候选基因。这些结果为QTL精细定位提供了有价值的信息，揭示了在相反的浇水环境下叶片形状的遗传机制，等位基因为标记辅助选择育种提供了有用的靶标。