Maize Samples Characterized for Endosperm Opacity, Total Protein Content and Allelic Variations of Three SSR Loci within the Opaque-2 (O2) Gene
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Date
2018-07
Authors
Adeyemo, O. A.
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Publisher
NISEB Journal
Abstract
This study examined a set of maize (Zea mays L.) samples available for human and animal consumption using kernel endosperm phenotype, total protein content and recessive allelic variations at three SSR loci within the opaque-2 gene characteristics. Endosperm opacity light-box ratings identified five classes of kernel modification in a set of 40 maize samples; Class 1 (36.05 %), Class 2 (34.12 %), Class 3 (18.16 %), Class 4 (8.3 %), and Class 5 (3.3 %). Kernel total protein content of a set of twenty-five lines varied from 3. 85 to 15. 27 % with a mean of 9.41 %. Among a set of 17 maize samples, allelic variations were observed at the 3 SSR loci for the opaque-2 gene. Three alleles and a null allele were found at phi112 with some heterozygotes while three alleles at the phi057 with some heterozygotes. The SSR umc1066 showed the lowest polymorphism with two alleles. In this study, two markers namely, phi112 and phi057 identified very few maize samples (35 %) containing the opaque-2 mutant's alleles which have been reported to be responsible for an increased lysine and tryptophan contents. The grouping of 17 maize samples with 3 SSR markers generated 2 clusters. The results of our study suggested that humans and animals’ accessibility to quality protein maize (QPM) considering the allelic variations is ample.
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Keywords
Allelic variations, endosperm opacity, opaque-2 gene, quality protein maize
Citation
Oyenike A. Adeyemo and Simisola O. Oke. 2018. Maize Samples Characterized for Endosperm Opacity, Total Protein Content and Allelic Variations of Three SSR Loci within the Opaque-2 (O2) Gene. Journal of the Nigerian Society for Experimental Biology. 18 (2): 53-60.