Next generation sequencing-based MutMap identifies genomic regions associated with strong culm in rice
摘要
Culm strength is a key determinant of lodging resistance in rice, directly impacting yield stability and resilience. To identify genomic regions associated with strong culm, we characterized the strong culm mutant TI-17, derived from the Indian mega rice variety Samba Mahsuri (BPT-5204). Comparative anatomical analyses revealed that TI-17 exhibited increased culm wall thickness, sclerenchyma thickness, and xylem vessel sclerenchyma thickness, along with a reduced xylem vessel diameter relative to BPT-5204. Using the MutMap approach, we identified 12 candidate genes distributed across three genomic regions on chromosomes 3 (32.71–33.70 Mb), 4 (18.2–20.0 Mb), and 8 (24.0–27.0 Mb). SNPs within the candidate regions were converted into KASP assays, including KASP8_9 (chr8:26248706; A→G; CAG [Glutamine] to CGG [Arginine]) in Os08g0527300, encoding peptidase C19, ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 2 domain containing protein. This SNP of KASP8_9 demonstrated perfect co-segregation with culm strength, effectively differentiating weak and strong culm genotypes. The findings highlight Os08g0527300 as a promising target for the genetic improvement of culm strength, contributing to the development of high-yield, climate-resilient rice varieties.