Identification of quantitative trait loci for drought tolerance at seedling stage by screening a large number of introgression lines in maize

The maize genome hosts tremendous phenotypic and molecular diversity. Introgression lines (ILs), developed by continuous backcrossing to recurrent parents, could provide a unique genetic stock for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. Using maize lines from six heterotic groups of different ecological zones, we developed >500 BC 2 F 2 IL sets by crossing 11 inbred lines (as recurrent parents) with >200 local maize inbred lines (as donor...