Skip to main content
Fig. 7 | Genome Biology

Fig. 7

From: The genetic mechanism of heterosis utilization in maize improvement

Fig. 7

A proposed model of polygenic interactions underlying floral transition facilitating molecular design breeding. a Schematic model positing that yield heterosis is mainly attributable to the cumulative effects of epistatic QTLs during the entire developmental process. b The hypothetical regulatory pathway underlying floral transition in maize, including the placement of the putative functions of ZmNF-YB3, BRD1, and BR2. Orthologous flowering time genes in rice are given in parentheses. Indirect interactions with unknown mechanisms are indicated as dotted lines. Genes detected by GWAS analysis in this study are highlighted in red. c Trait improvement with MDB-assisted selective breeding and genome editing. We assume here that three genes form a regulatory network that we can manipulate for refined adjustment of flowering time and plant stature. In selective breeding, since Gene A serves as an epistatic regulator of Genes B and C, natural variants with activating functions for the three genes must be all pyramided into one inbred line. We can now do this via MDB to select the optimal genotypic combination. We can also do this with genome editing, by artificially modifying the repressive variants into their activating variants to achieve the desired improvement goal

Back to article page