Rice chromosomal segment substitution lines (CSSLs) are ideal materials for studying quantitative traits such as grain size. Here, a rice large-grain CSSL-Z403 was identified among progeny of the recipient Xihui18 and the donor Jinhui35 based on molecular marker-assisted selection. Z403 carried 10 substitution segments with average length of 3.01 Mb. Then, a secondary F-2 population derived from a cross between Xihui18 and Z403 was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for grain size. Six QTLs distributed on chromosomes 5, 6, 7, 9 and 12 were detected. Finally four single-segment substitution lines (SSSLs) and two dual-segment substitution lines (DSSLs) carrying these target QTLs were constructed, and 10 novel QTLs were identified by four SSSLs. The large grain of Z403 was controlled at least by qGWT5, qGWT7, qGWT9 and qGWT12, and its grain weight was influenced through grain length QTL such as qGL5, qGL6, qGL9 and qGL12, as well as grain width QTL such as qGW5, qGW7, qGW9 and qGW12. Among 16 QTLs, four QTLs including qGL6, etc., might be novel compared with the reported documents. Again, positive or less negative epistatic effects between two non-allelic QTLs (additive effect > 0) may assist screening the genotype with larger grain size in further selection.

Single segment substitution line (SSSL) libraries are an ideal platform for breeding by design. To develop SSSLs-Xihui18 covering the whole genome, a novel rice chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL), Z783, carrying two substitution segments (average length of 6.55 Mb) on Chr.4 and Chr.9 was identified, which was a gap in the library previously. Z783 was developed from the progeny of recipient “Xihui18” (an indica restorer line) and donor “Huhan3” (a japonica cultivar) by advanced backcross combined molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS). It displayed multiple panicles and less spikelets and wide grains. Then, a F2 population derived from Xihui18/Z783 was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for yield-related traits by the mixed linear model method. Nine QTLs were detected (p < 0.05). Furthermore, three SSSLs were constructed by MAS, and all 9 QTLs could be validated, and 15 novel QTLs could be detected by these SSSLs by a one-way ANOVA analysis. The genetic analysis showed that qSSP4 for less spikelets and qGW9 for wide grain all displayed dominant gene action in their SSSLs. Finally, qSSP4 and qGW9 were fine-mapped to intervals of 2.75 Mb and 1.84 Mb, on Chromosomes 4 and 9, respectively. The results lay a solid foundation for their map cloning and molecular breeding by design.

水稻籽粒大小是一个复杂的农艺性状,受多基因控制。染色体片段代换系是创造自然变异的有效手段,也是复杂性状研究的理想材料。本研究构建了一个新的水稻长大粒染色体片段代换系Z66, Z66以日本晴的基因组为遗传背景,含有来自R225的12个代换片段,平均代换长度为3.32Mb。然后,以日本晴/Z66创建的次级F 2 群体定位出12个控制水稻籽粒大小的QTL,并培育出具有目标QTL的5个新单片段代换系（S1～S5）和4个新双片段代换系（D1～D4）。其中有9个QTL（qGL3、qGL7、qGL10、qGW6、qGW10、qRLW3、qRLW10、qGWT3、qGWT10）可被单片段代换系所验证,表明这些QTL遗传稳定。此外,还利用单片段代换系鉴定到6个新的QTL（qGL9-2、qGW9-2、qRLW6、qRLW7、qRLW9-2、qGWT7）。在这18个QTL中,qGL9-2、qRLW9-1、qRLW9-2、qGW9-2、qGWT9-2可能是新鉴定的QTL。双基因聚合分析表明,不同QTL间聚合产生不同的上位性效应。如qRLW3（a=0.21）和qRLW9-2（a=0.08）聚合产生了0.10的上位性效应,使D2具有比受体日本晴、S1（qRLW3）和S4（qRLW9-2）更大的谷粒长宽比,且差异显著。qGWT3（a=3.99）和qGWT10（a=3.98）聚合产生了-5.35的上位性效应,其遗传效应（2.62）使D3的千粒重比日本晴显著增加,而比S1（qGWT3）和S5（qGWT10）显著减少。了解QTL间的互作效应可对未来基因型的表型进行预测,从而对实现智能型设计育种至关重要。

Most agronomic traits of rice (Oryza sativa), such as grain length, are complex traits controlled by multiple genes. Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) are ideal materials for dissecting these complex traits. We developed the novel rice CSSL 'Z414', which has short, wide grains, from progeny of the recipient parent 'Xihui 18' (an indica restorer line) and the donor parent 'Huhan 3' (a japonica cultivar). Z414 contains four substitution segments with an average length of 3.04 Mb. Z414 displays seven traits that significantly differ from those of Xihui 18, including differences in grain length, width, and weight; degree of chalkiness; and brown rice rate. We identified seven quantitative trait loci (QTL) that are responsible for these differences in an F-2 population from a cross between Xihui 18 and Z414. Among these, six QTL (qPL3, qGW5, qGL11, qRLW5, qRLW11, and qGWT5) were detected in newly developed single-segment substitution lines (SSSLs) S1-S6. In addition, four QTL (qGL3, qGL5, qCD3, and qCD5) were detected in S1 and S5. Analysis of these SSSLs attributed the short, wide grain trait of Z414 to qGL11, qGL3, qGL5, and qGW5. Substitution mapping delimited qGL11 within an 810-kb interval on chromosome 11. Sequencing, real time quantitative PCR, and cell morphology analysis revealed that qGL11 might be a novel QTL encoding the cyclin CycT1;3. Finally, pyramiding qGL3 (a = 0.43) and qGL11 (a = - 0.37) led to shorter grains in the dual-segment substitution line D2 and revealed that qGL11 is epistatic to qGL3. In addition, S1 and D2 exhibited different grain sizes and less chalkiness than Z414. In conclusion, the short grain phenotype of the CSSL Z414 is controlled by qGL11, qGL3, and qGL5. qGL11 might be a novel QTL encoding CycT1;3, whose specific role in regulating grain length was previously unknown, and qGL11 is epistatic to qGL3. S1 and D2 could potentially be used in hybrid rice breeding.

Background: Most of rice agronomic traits as grain length etc. are complex traits controlled by multiple genes. Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) are ideal materials for dissecting and studying of these complex traits. Results: We developed a novel rice short-wide grain CSSL, Z414, deriving from progeny of the recipient parent Xihui 18 (an indica restorer line) and the donor parent Huhan 3 (a japonica cultivar). Z414 contained 4 substitution segments (average length was 3.04 Mb). Compared with Xihui 18, Z414 displayed seven significantly different traits as grain length, width and weight, chalkiness degree, brown rice rate etc. Then, 8 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were found responding these difference traits by F 2 population from Xihui 18/Z414. Among them, 6 QTLs ( qPL3 , qGW5 , qGL11 , qRLW5 , qRLW11 , qGWT5 ) could be verified by novel developed single segment substitution lines (SSSLs, S1-S6). In addition, 4 QTLs ( qGL3 , qGL5 , qCD3 and qCD5 ) were novel detected by S1 and S5. Thus, the short–wide grain of Z414 was responded by qGL11 , qGL3 , qGL5 , and qGW5. Then, qGL11 and qGW5 were delimited within intervals of 0.405 and 1.14 Mb on chromosomes 11 and 5, respectively, by substitution mapping. Again by sequencing, qRT-PCR and cell morphology analysis , qGW5 should be a novel allele of GS5 and qGL11 is novel QTL encoding CycT1;3 , whose specific function of regulating grain length was still unknown. Finally, pyramid of qGL3 (a=0.22) and qGL11 (a=-0.19) displayed qGL11 epistatic to qGL3 . In addition, novel S1 and D2 exhibited different grain sizes and lower chalkiness degree. They are potential to be directly used in breeding hybrid rice varieties. Conclusions: We constructed a novel rice short–wide grain CSSL-Z414 with 4 substitution segments based on the genetic backgrounds of Xihui 18. The broad grain of Z414 was controlled by qGW5 , which should be a novel allele of GS5. The short grain of Z414 was controlled by qGL11 , qGL3 , and qGL5 , and qGL11 is a novel QTL encoding CycT1;3 , whose specific function of regulating grain length was still unknown, and qGL11 is epistatic to qGL3 . Novel S1 and D2 are potential in hybrid rice varieties.