Yield traits for maize

A method for identifying a Zea mays plant comprising at least one allele associated with improved yield, the method comprising:

• (a) genotyping at least one Zea mays plant with at least one nucleic acid marker selected from among SEQ ID NOs:
• 1-51, 54, 59, 64, 69, 74, 79, 84, 89, 94, 99, 104, 109, 114, 119, 124, 129, 134, 139, 144, 149, 154, 159, 164, 169, 174, 179, 184, 189, 194, 199, 204, 209, 214, 219, 224, 229, 234, 239, 244, 249, 254, 259, 264, 269, 274, 279, 284, 289, 294, 299, 304, and 307-382;
• and
• (b) selecting at least one Zea mays plant comprising an allele of at least one of the at least one nucleic acid marker that is associated with improved yield.

An isolated and purified genetic marker associated with a yield trait in Zea mays, wherein the isolated and purified genetic marker:

• (a) comprises a nucleotide sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs:
• 1-382, or the reverse complement thereof, or an informative fragment thereof;
• and/or
• (b) comprises a nucleotide sequence of an amplification product or an informative fragment thereof from a nucleic acid sample isolated from a Zea mays plant, wherein the amplification product is produced by amplifying a Zea mays nucleic acid using a pair of oligonucleotide primers selected from among SEQ ID NOs:
• 52 and 53, SEQ ID NOs:
• 57 and 58, SEQ ID NOs:
• 62 and 63, SEQ ID NOs:
• 67 and 68, SEQ ID NOs:
• 72 and 73, SEQ ID NOs:
• 77 and 78, SEQ ID NOs:
• 82 and 83, SEQ ID NOs:
• 87 and 88, SEQ ID NOs:
• 92 and 93, SEQ ID NOs:
• 97 and 98, SEQ ID NOs:
• 102 and 103, SEQ ID NOs:
• 107 and 108, SEQ ID NOs:
• 112 and 113, SEQ ID NOs:
• 117 and 118, SEQ ID NOs:
• 122 and 123, SEQ ID NOs:
• 127 and 128, SEQ ID NOs:
• 132 and 133, SEQ ID NOs:
• 137 and 138, SEQ ID NOs:
• 142 and 143, SEQ ID NOs:
• 147 and 148, SEQ ID NOs:
• 152 and 153, SEQ ID NOs:
• 157 and 158, SEQ ID NOs:
• 162 and 163, SEQ ID NOs:
• 167 and 168, SEQ ID NOs:
• 172 and 173, SEQ ID NOs:
• 177 and 178, SEQ ID NOs:
• 182 and 183, SEQ ID NOs:
• 187 and 188, SEQ ID NOs:
• 192 and 193, SEQ ID NOs:
• 197 and 198, SEQ ID NOs:
• 202 and 203, SEQ ID NOs:
• 207 and 208, SEQ ID NOs:
• 212 and 213, SEQ ID NOs:
• 217 and 218, SEQ ID NOs:
• 222 and 223, SEQ ID NOs:
• 227 and 228, SEQ ID NOs:
• 232 and 233, SEQ ID NOs:
• 237 and 238, SEQ ID NOs:
• 242 and 243, SEQ ID NOs:
• 247 and 248, SEQ ID NOs:
• 252 and 253, SEQ ID NOs:
• 257 and 258, SEQ ID NOs:
• 262 and 263, SEQ ID NOs:
• 267 and 268, SEQ ID NOs:
• 272 and 273, SEQ ID NOs:
• 277 and 278, SEQ ID NOs:
• 282 and 283, SEQ ID NOs:
• 287 and 288, SEQ ID NOs:
• 292 and 293, SEQ ID NOs:
• 297 and 298;
• and SEQ ID NOs:
• 302 and 303.

A method for producing an inbred Zea mays plant adapted for conferring, in hybrid combination with a suitable second inbred, improved yield, the method comprising:

• (a) selecting a first donor parental line possessing a desired yield trait and having at least one of improved yield loci selected from Zea mays loci:
• (1) ZmDWF1, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 1, 50, 51, 54, 299, 304, 307, 308, and 380-382;
• (2) ZmZfl2, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 2-4, 59, 64, 69, and 309-312;
• (3) ZmFea2, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 5-7, 74, 79, 89, and 313-316;
• (4) ZmZfl1, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 8, 9, 89, 94, and 317-319;
• (5) M1—8138, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 10, 99, 320, and 321;
• (6) ZmCat3, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 11, 12, 104, 109, and 322-324;
• (7) Zm013154, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 13, 114, 325, and 326;
• (8) ZmSTP1, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 14, 15, 119, 124, and 327-329;
• (9) ZmCaT, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 16, 129, 330, and 331;
• (10) ZmAlaAT, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 17-19, 134, 139, 144, and 332-335;
• (11) ZmD11/DWARF4L1, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 20, 21, 149, 154, and 336-338;
• (12) ZmDWARF4, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 22, 23, 159, 164, and 339-341;
• (13) ZmTD1, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 24-26, 169, 174, 179, and 342-345;
• (14) ZmBT2, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 27, 28, 184, 189, and 346-348;
• (15) ZmVrs1.1, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 29, 30, 194, 199, and 349-351;
• (16) ZmSPS1, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 31, 204, 352, and 353;
• (17) ZmBRI1, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 32-34, 209, 214, 219, and 354-357;
• (18) ZmCaT2, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 35-37, 224, 229, 234, and 358-361;
• (19) ZmCKX1, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 38-41, 239, 244, 249, 254, and 362-366;
• (20) ZmCKX4, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 42, 259, 367, and 368;
• (21) ZmCKX7, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 43, 44, 264, 269, and 369-371;
• (22) ZmGW2-2, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 45, 46, 274, 279, and 372-374;
• (23) ZmKRN1, mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 47, 284, 375, and 376;
• and
• (24) ZmVRS1-3 mapped by one or more of the markers SEQ ID NOs:
• 48, 49, 289, 294, and 377-379;
• (b) crossing the first donor parent line with a second parental line in hybrid combination to produce a segregating plant population;
• (c) screening the segregating plant population for presence of an allele associated with improved yield;
• and
• (d) selecting plants from the population having the allele for further screening until a line is obtained which is homozygous for improved yield at sufficient loci to give improved yield in hybrid combination.

An inbred Zea mays plant comprising one or more alleles associated with a desired yield trait, wherein:

• (a) the desired yield trait is grain yield at standard moisture percentage (YGSMN), and the allele of interest is selected from a nucleotide sequence comprising a G at nucleotide position 2420 of SEQ ID NO:
• 2;
• a G at nucleotide position 2709 of SEQ ID NO:
• 3;
• a T at nucleotide position 368 of SEQ ID NO:
• 4;
• a C at nucleotide position 4038 of SEQ ID NO:
• 5;
• a C at nucleotide position 4038 of SEQ ID NO:
• 6;
• an A at nucleotide position 402 of SEQ ID NO:
• 7;
• a T at nucleotide position 3050 of SEQ ID NO:
• 8;
• a C at nucleotide position 408 of SEQ ID NO:
• 10;
• a C at nucleotide position 160 of SEQ ID NO:
• 11;
• a C at nucleotide position 311 of SEQ ID NO:
• 12;
• an A at nucleotide position 338 of SEQ ID NO:
• 13;
• an A at nucleotide position 5356 of SEQ ID NO:
• 14;
• a C at nucleotide position 5371 of SEQ ID NO:
• 15;
• an A at nucleotide position 1587 of SEQ ID NO:
• 16;
• an A at nucleotide position 388 of SEQ ID NO:
• 17;
• a T at nucleotide position 494 of SEQ ID NO:
• 18;
• a T at nucleotide position 112 of SEQ ID NO:
• 19;
• a T at nucleotide position 2458 of SEQ ID NO:
• 20;
• a T at nucleotide position 4037 of SEQ ID NO:
• 21;
• a T at nucleotide position 849 of SEQ ID NO:
• 22;
• a G at nucleotide position 1032 of SEQ ID NO:
• 24;
• an A at nucleotide position 286 of SEQ ID NO:
• 25;
• an A at nucleotide position 346 of SEQ ID NO:
• 26;
• an A at nucleotide position 6968 of SEQ ID NO:
• 27;
• an A at nucleotide position 6083 of SEQ ID NO:
• 28;
• an A at nucleotide position 1729 of SEQ ID NO:
• 29;
• a C at nucleotide position 1668 of SEQ ID NO:
• 30;
• a G at nucleotide position 1255 of SEQ ID NO:
• 32;
• a C at nucleotide position 1336 of SEQ ID NO:
• 33;
• a G at nucleotide position 1486 of SEQ ID NO:
• 34;
• an A at nucleotide position 1742 of SEQ ID NO:
• 35;
• a T at nucleotide position 631 of SEQ ID NO:
• 37;
• a T at nucleotide position 3860 of SEQ ID NO:
• 40;
• an A at nucleotide position 903 of SEQ ID NO:
• 42;
• an A at nucleotide position 1795 of SEQ ID NO:
• 43;
• a T at nucleotide position 3597 of SEQ ID NO:
• 45;
• an A at nucleotide position 3611 of SEQ ID NO:
• 46;
• a C at nucleotide position 1603 of SEQ ID NO:
• 50;
• and an A at nucleotide position 2859 of SEQ ID NO:
• 51;
• (b) the desired yield trait is grain moisture at harvest (GMSTP), and the allele of interest is selected from a nucleotide sequence comprising a C at nucleotide position 2420 of SEQ ID NO:
• 2;
• a T at nucleotide position 2709 of SEQ ID NO:
• 3;
• a T at nucleotide position 368 of SEQ ID NO:
• 4;
• a T at nucleotide position 4038 of SEQ ID NO:
• 5;
• a T at nucleotide position 4038 of SEQ ID NO:
• 6;
• a G at nucleotide position 402 of SEQ ID NO:
• 7;
• a G at nucleotide position 3050 of SEQ ID NO:
• 8;
• a G at nucleotide position 2146 of SEQ ID NO:
• 9;
• a T at nucleotide position 408 of SEQ ID NO:
• 10;
• a G at nucleotide position 160 of SEQ ID NO:
• 11;
• a G at nucleotide position 338 of SEQ ID NO:
• 13;
• a G at nucleotide position 5356 of SEQ ID NO:
• 14;
• an A at nucleotide position 5371 of SEQ ID NO:
• 15;
• a G at nucleotide position 1587 of SEQ ID NO:
• 16;
• a G at nucleotide position 388 of SEQ ID NO:
• 17;
• a G at nucleotide position 112 of SEQ ID NO:
• 19;
• an A at nucleotide position 2458 of SEQ ID NO:
• 20;
• a C at nucleotide position 1032 of SEQ ID NO:
• 24;
• a G at nucleotide position 286 of SEQ ID NO:
• 25;
• a T at nucleotide position 6968 of SEQ ID NO:
• 27;
• a G at nucleotide position 6083 of SEQ ID NO:
• 28;
• a G at nucleotide position 1729 of SEQ ID NO:
• 29;
• an A at nucleotide position 1668 of SEQ ID NO:
• 30;
• a G at nucleotide position 5516 of SEQ ID NO:
• 31;
• a G at nucleotide position 1255 of SEQ ID NO:
• 32;
• a G at nucleotide position 1486 of SEQ ID NO:
• 34;
• an A at nucleotide position 1742 of SEQ ID NO:
• 35;
• a C at nucleotide position 2457 of SEQ ID NO:
• 36;
• a G at nucleotide position 945 of SEQ ID NO:
• 38;
• an A at nucleotide position 2378 of SEQ ID NO:
• 39;
• an A at nucleotide position 3860 of SEQ ID NO:
• 40;
• a G at nucleotide position 2519 of SEQ ID NO:
• 41;
• a G at nucleotide position 903 of SEQ ID NO:
• 42;
• a T at nucleotide position 2040 of SEQ ID NO:
• 44;
• an A at nucleotide position 3597 of SEQ ID NO:
• 45;
• an A at nucleotide position 3611 of SEQ ID NO:
• 46;
• a G at nucleotide position 131 of SEQ ID NO:
• 47;
• an A at nucleotide position 2273 of SEQ ID NO:
• 48;
• a C at nucleotide position 187 of SEQ ID NO:
• 49;
• a C at nucleotide position 1603 of SEQ ID NO:
• 50;
• and an A at nucleotide position 2859 of SEQ ID NO:
• 51;
• and/or
• (c) the desired yield trait is grain weight per plot (GWTPN), and the allele of interest is selected from a nucleotide sequence comprising a G at nucleotide position 1333 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1;
• a T at nucleotide position 368 of SEQ ID NO:
• 4;
• a T at nucleotide position 4038 of SEQ ID NO:
• 5;
• a C at nucleotide position 408 of SEQ ID NO:
• 10;
• an A at nucleotide position 338 of SEQ ID NO:
• 13;
• a G at nucleotide position 966 of SEQ ID NO:
• 23;
• or an A at nucleotide position 286 of SEQ ID NO:
• 25.