Fine mapping and characterization of genes involved in maize nitrogen utilization efficiency
type: CreativeWork
description: Maize is one of the most productive crop species on earth. A core component of this productivity comes from maize’s responsiveness to nitrogen fertilizers. Despite their importance in crop production, these fertilizers can place an economic burden on growers and can also have negative environmental and health impacts when applied in excess. In order to mitigate the negative effects of nitrogen fertilizers while also developing maize lines productive enough to feed a growing global population, improvements in nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) is an important component of current and future crop research. Importantly, this research must be conducted in conditions that closely mimic commercial-scale production to ensure that the findings are applicable to modern agricultural settings. A key resource that has facilitated understanding of the genetic components associated with nitrogen utilization efficiency has been the Intermated B73 X Mo17 Recombinant Inbred Lines (IBMRIL) X Illinois High Protein (IHP) mapping population. Previous QTL mapping experiments using this population have identified 9 robust genomic regions associated with NUtE and associated traits. In order to identify candidate genes in additional QTL from the IBMRIL X IHP mapping study, several genetic techniques were utilized. Fine mapping was used to reduce the size of a NUtE QTL on chromosome 1 from 15 Mb to 2.5 Mb. This QTL’s effect on NUtE was replicated using an IBMNIL population containing introgressions of the chromosome 1 QTL genomic region of interest. This region contained 22 annotated genes which included two members of the NRT1.1 nitrate transporter gene family (NRT1.1B and NRT1.1C). The NRT1.1 gene family contains four members: NRT1.1A, NRT1.1B, NRT1.1C and NRT1.1D, of which NRT1.1A and NRT1.1B seen to function as the primary functional homologues based on cross species homology and gene expression data. Gene orthologs of NRT1.1A and NRT1.1B have been shown to play critical roles in nit…
abstract: Maize is one of the most productive crop species on earth. A core component of this productivity comes from maize’s responsiveness to nitrogen fertilizers. Despite their importance in crop production, these fertilizers can place an economic burden on growers and can also have negative environmental and health impacts when applied in excess. In order to mitigate the negative effects of nitrogen fertilizers while also developing maize lines productive enough to feed a growing global population, improvements in nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) is an important component of current and future crop research. Importantly, this research must be conducted in conditions that closely mimic commercial-scale production to ensure that the findings are applicable to modern agricultural settings. A key resource that has facilitated understanding of the genetic components associated with nitrogen utilization efficiency has been the Intermated B73 X Mo17 Recombinant Inbred Lines (IBMRIL) X Illinois High Protein (IHP) mapping population. Previous QTL mapping experiments using this population have identified 9 robust genomic regions associated with NUtE and associated traits. In order to identify candidate genes in additional QTL from the IBMRIL X IHP mapping study, several genetic techniques were utilized. Fine mapping was used to reduce the size of a NUtE QTL on chromosome 1 from 15 Mb to 2.5 Mb. This QTL’s effect on NUtE was replicated using an IBMNIL population containing introgressions of the chromosome 1 QTL genomic region of interest. This region contained 22 annotated genes which included two members of the NRT1.1 nitrate transporter gene family (NRT1.1B and NRT1.1C). The NRT1.1 gene family contains four members: NRT1.1A, NRT1.1B, NRT1.1C and NRT1.1D, of which NRT1.1A and NRT1.1B seen to function as the primary functional homologues based on cross species homology and gene expression data. Gene orthologs of NRT1.1A and NRT1.1B have been shown to play critical roles in nit…
author: Rhodes, Brian Harrison
language: en
keywords: Maize, Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency, CRISPR/Cas9, Nitrate Transporter
date published: 2021-09-17T02:34:38Z
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:52Z
provider: University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/110703