Unearthing novel QTLs for enhancing rice straw quality through genome-wide association mapping

Rameswar Prasad Sah Sah; Hatanath Subudhi; Anilkumar C; Muhammed Azharudheen TP; Ravi D; BC Marndi; S Samantaray; S Behera; SP Mohanty; Padmakumar V; L Behera; A Anandan

doi:10.59515/rma.2025.v46.i2.09

Authors

Rameswar Prasad Sah Sah Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack, India
Hatanath Subudhi Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack, India
Anilkumar C Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack, India
Muhammed Azharudheen TP ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Ravi D International Livestock Research Institute, Patancheru, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
BC Marndi Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack, India
S Samantaray Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack, India
S Behera Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack, India
SP Mohanty Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack, India
Padmakumar V International Livestock Research Institute, Patancheru, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
L Behera Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack, India
A Anandan ICAR-Indian Institute of Seed Science, Regional Station, Bengaluru, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59515/rma.2025.v46.i2.09

Keywords:

Association mapping, Biofuel, Biomass, Paddy straw, QTL, Rice

Abstract

The potential of rice straw as an energy source for ruminants is substantial and depends on improving its cell wall composition through genetic enhancement. This study mapped quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for key straw quality traits, including dry matter, ash, nitrogen, lignin, silica, cellulose, hemicellulose, and digestibilityusing 133 rice lines genotyped with 133 SSR markers. A total of 37 significant marker-trait associations were detected, with eight markers influencing multiple traits and three linked to all traits except silica. Candidate genes included OsSND2, OsMYB55/OsPL and PGIP for cellulose content, OsNADH-GOGAT2 for nitrogen content and OsPG1 for hemicellulose content. These loci, genes and associated markers offer valuable tools for breeding dual-purpose rice varieties that combine high grain yield with superior, more digestible straw.