QTL mapping for lignin content, lignin monomeric composition, p-hydroxycinnamate content, and cell wall digestibility in the maize recombinant inbred line progeny F838 × F286

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting cell wall digestibility, lignin content, lignin monomeric composition, and p-hydroxycinnamate contents were detected from 242 RIL derived from the cross F838 × F286 which were evaluated in per se value experiments in six environments. The 80 detected QTL mapped in 25 non-overlapping positions and 7 hotspots were observed with 5–10 colocalizing QTL. Seven QTL for in vitro cell wall digestibility (IVNDFD) were observed, out of which the two most important explained 23.0 and 13.4% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. Several QTL were observed for lignin content and lignin monomeric composition estimated after alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation. Similarly, several QTL were observed for content in wall-linked esterified p-coumaric, esterified and etherified ferulic acid, and each of the two investigated diferulic acids. No QTL for lignin content colocalized with the two most important QTL for IVNDFD. Two QTL for lignin content located in bins 3.04 and 10.04, which explained the greatest part of phenotypic variation of lignin traits, did not colocalize with QTL for IVNDFD.