Characterization of qtls and candidate genes for days to heading in rice recombinant inbred lines

Understanding the gene mechanisms controlling days to heading (DH) is important in rice breeding for adaption in the target environment. Using a recombinant inbred line population derived from the cross between two japonica rice cultivars, Koshihikari and Baegilmi, we identified three consistent quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for DH for two years, qDH3, qDH6, and qDH7 on chromosomes 3, 6, and 7, respectively. While Baegilmi contributed the allele for early heading at qDH6 and qDH7 with the additive effect of five days each, Koshihikari contributed the allele for early heading at qDH3 with the additive effect of three days. Notably, pyramiding two or more alleles for early heading at these QTLs accelerated heading effectively. Sequencing of Hd16, Hd1, and Ghd7, the previously known heading date genes underlying qDH3, qDH6, and qDH7, respectively, revealed that Baegilmi and Koshihikari carry different alleles at the three genes. Molecular markers were developed to screen the allelic compositions of the three genes among 295 Korean commercial rice cultivars. The results showed that few cultivars carry alleles for early heading at the three genes, highlighting that DH can be further accelerated and fine-tuned in breeding programs by combining the desirable alleles of Hd16, Hd1, and Ghd7.