Identification of Quantitative Trait Locus for Overwintering Germinability in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

312 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) in F9 from a cross between a overwintering cold-tolerant germplasm resource Glutinous rice 89-1(Gr 89-1) and a cold-sensitive variety Shuhui 527 was used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. The scores of percent ratooning germinability (PRG) and overwintering germinability (POG) were evaluated. The overwintering germination rate of axillary buds was scored to represent the overwintering germinability. Two significant QTLs (qPRG-4 and qPRG-7) on chromosomes 4 and 7 were detected and explained 8.3 and 7.2% of the total phenotypic variation, respectively. Three significant QTLs (qPOG-2, qPOG-3 and qPOG-7) were identified and mapped on chromosomes 2, 3, and 7, respectively. These QTLs contributed 9.6, 6.7, and 17.8% of phenotypic variations, respectively. A comparative analysis using SSR markers closely linked to the three QTLs for the overwintering revealed cold-tolerant individuals, which harbour the Glutinous rice 89-1 alleles at RM7110, RM250, RM418, and RM232, had a high percent overwintering germinability, while cold-sensitive individuals, which carry Shuhui 527 alleles at these loci, had a low percent overwintering germinability in the F2 population of Shuhui 527/Glutinous rice 89-1. This study demonstrated the utility of these SSR markers for selection of overwintering germinability genotypes.