Identification of a Major Locus for Lodging Resistance to Typhoons Using QTL Analysis in Rice

We detected a new target quantitative trait locus (QTL) for lodging resistance in rice by analyzing lodging resistance to typhoons (Maysak and Haishen) using a scale from 0 (no prostrating) to 1 (little prostrating or prostrating) to record the resistance score in a Cheongcheong/Nagdong double haploid rice population. Five quantitative trait loci for lodging resistance to typhoons were detected. Among them, <i>qTyM6</i> and <i>qTyH6</i> exhibited crucial effects of locus RM3343–RM20318 on chromosome 6, which overlaps with our previous rice lodging studies for the loci <i>qPSLSA6-2</i>, <i>qPSLSB6-5</i>, and <i>qLTI6-2</i>. Within the target locus RM3343–RM20318, 12 related genes belonging to the cytochrome P450 protein family were screened through annotation. <i>Os06g0599200</i> (<i>OsTyM/Hq6</i>) was selected for further analysis. We observed that the culm and panicle lengths were positively correlated with lodging resistance to typhoons. However, the yield was negatively correlated with lodging resistance to typhoons. The findings of this study improve an understanding of rice breeding, particularly the culm length, early maturing, and heavy panicle varieties, and the mechanisms by which the plant’s architecture can resist natural disasters such as typhoons to ensure food safety. These results also provide the insight that lodging resistance in rice may be associated with major traits such as panicle length, culm length, tiller number, and heading date, and thereby improvements in these traits can increase lodging resistance to typhoons. Moreover, rice breeding should focus on maintaining suitable varieties that can withstand the adverse effects of climate change in the future and provide better food security.