Theory for identification of marker locus-QTL associations in population by line crosses.

The objective of this paper is to present genetic theory demonstrating the conditions under which it should be possible to identify molecular marker-quantitative trait locus (QTL) associations in crosses of random-mating populations to inbreds. Using as an example the cross of a corn (Zea mays L.) population to an inbred, the expected disequilibrium for testcross and per se performance of F2, F3, BC1 (to the inbred) and recombinant inbred generations was derived for cases where a marker allele is linked to an unfavorable QTL allele in the inbred and where the marker allele is linked to a favorable QTL allele in the inbred. Disequilibrium in segregating generations was shown to be a function of disequilibrium in the parent population, the frequency of marker and QTL alleles in the parent population, and the recombination distance between the marker and the QTL. To maximize the opportunity to identify a favorable QTL the following procedures are suggested: (1) Select marker loci with alleles in the parent population which are not present in the inbred. (2) Select populations known to have favorable QTL alleles not present in the inbred. (3) Use as many marker loci as possible to enhance the probability of tight linkage between the marker and the QTL.