Progress in Breeding for Yield-enhancing QTL from O.rufipogon by Molecular Marker-assisted Selection

Two yield-enhancing quantitative trait loci(QTL) yld1.1 and yld2.1 from O.rufipogon were identified by collaborative research between China National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center and Cornell University of USA in 1995.They were later transferred to the elite late-season rice restorer line Ce 64-7 and middle-season rice restorer lines 9311 and Minghui 63.Q611 and other new rice restorer lines whose DNA containing the QTL yld1.1 and yld2.1 were developed by molecular marker-assisted selection(MAS) as well as field agronomic selection. The hybrids derived from Q611 and male sterile lines in rice showed strong heterosis in yield,indicating that the yield-enhancing QTL from O.rufipogon had a significant effect on increasing grain yield and had a great value in hybrid rice breeding,and the MAS was an effective method in genetically improving quantitative traits.