Abstract
Selection and random genetic drift are the two main forces affecting
the selection response of recurrent selection (RS) programs by changes
in allele frequencies. Therefore, detailed knowledge on allele
frequency changes attributable to these forces is of fundamental
importance for assessing RS programs. The objectives of our study were
to (1) estimate the number, position, and genetic effect of
quantitative trait loci (QTL) for selection index and its components in
the base populations, (2) determine changes in allele frequencies of
QTL regions due to the effects of random genetic drift and selection,
and (3) predict allele frequency changes by using QTL results and
compare these predictions with observed values. We performed QTL
analyses, based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs)
and simple sequence repeats (SSRs), in 274 F-2:3 lines of cross KW1265
x D146 (A x B) and 133 F-3:4 lines of cross D145 x KW1292 (C x D)
originating from two European flint maize populations. Four (A x B) and
seven (C x D) cycles of RS were analyzed with SSRs for significant
allele frequency changes due to selection. Several QTL regions for
selection index were detected with simple and composite interval
mapping. In some of them, flanking markers showed a significant allele
frequency change after the first and the final selection cycles. The
correlation between observed and predicted allele frequencies was
significant only in A x B. We attribute these observations mainly to
(1) the high dependence of the power of QTL detection on the population
size and (2) the occurrence of undetectable QTL in repulsion phase.
Assessment of allele frequency changes in RS programs can be used to
detect marker alleles linked to QTL regions under selection pressure.
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