Mapping QTLs for milling yield and grain characteristics in a tropical japonica long grain cross

Percent milling yield is an economically important trait of commercial rice because it largely determines the price that farmers receive for their crop. Analyzing 22 trait variables including milling yield, grain dimensions, chemistry and appearance, we identified 43 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in a long grain japonica by long grain japonica cross. We report one QTL explaining 20% of the variation in brown rice recovery; two QTLs explaining 14% and 13% of the variation in milled rice recovery; and one QTL explaining 14% of the variation in head rice (HR) recovery. QTLs for the proportion of pre-broken brown rice kernels, seed density, amylose content, and kernel whiteness and chalkiness were found in the same region as the HR QTL. QTLs explaining up to 54% of the variation in grain shape measurements were identified and mapped to areas independent from those identified for milling yield. Analyses of grain appearance traits identified two QTLs for chalk in brown rice and one in head rice, and a QTL explaining up to 33% of the variance in green kernel area. Our results confirm previous findings on the multigenically complex nature of milling yield.