CT-Based Phenotyping and Genome-Wide Association Analysis of the Internal Structure and Components of Maize Kernels

The structure of the maize kernels plays a critical role in determining yield and quality, high-throughput, non-destructive microscope phenotypic characteristics acquisition analysis are great importance. In this study, Micro-CT technology was used to obtain images kernels. An automatic CT image pipeline then developed extract 20 traits related three-dimensional kernel, embryo, endosperm, cavity. determination coefficients for five volume-related (embryo, silty embryo cavity, endosperm cavity) were 0.95, 0.77, 0.73, 0.94, respectively. Further, we analyzed variations among group 303 inbred lines conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS). A total 26 significant SNP loci associated with these that closely kernel volume, 62 candidate genes identified. Functional revealed most corresponding cavity encoded stress resistance proteins, while those proteins involved regulating plant growth development. These results will improve understanding provide new theoretical support in-depth genetic mechanism traits.