engleski

Breeding strategies for metal accumulation in maize – from conventional breeding to cisgenesis

Although major crops have been investigated for decades for altering metal concentrations in various tissues, the interest has been recently intensified because of biofortification and phytoremediation programs. The particular goals are enhancing concentrations of beneficial metals such as iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) and/or reducing concentrations of toxic elements (e.g. cadmium - Cd). Our results in maize showed that metal accumulation in leaf and grain are mostly controlled by numerous small-effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs), indicating long-term conventional breeding as a breeding strategy. However, we identified, validated and confirmed a major QTL for leaf Cd concentration on chromosome 2 (bin 2.06). We detected a putative candidate gene of known function on the basis of co- location with the major QTL. Our findings could aid rapid development of maize genotypes with decreased/increased Cd accumulation in leaves by manipulation of the gene. Using the detected gene in maize breeding via the new cisgenic approach will be discussed.

maize ; metal accumulation ; plant breeding ; strategies

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