QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI INFLUENCING CHEMICAL AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF EATING QUALITY IN SWEET CORN

This study was conducted to ascertain the chromosomal location and mag nitude of effect of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with the chemical and sensory properties of sweet corn (Zea mays L.) eating qua lity. Eighty-eight RFLPs, 3 cloned genes (shl, sh2, and dhnl), and 2 m orphological markers (a2 and sel) distributed throughout the sweet cor n genome were scored in 214 F-2:3 families derived from a cross betwee n the inbreds W6786sulSel and IL731Asulsel. Kernel properties associat ed with eating quality (kernel tenderness and starch, phytoglycogen, s ucrose, and dimethyl sulfide concentrations) were quantified on F-2:3 sib-pollinated ears harvested at 20 days after pollination. Sensory ev aluation was conducted on a subset of 103 F-2:3 families to determine intensity of attributes associated with sweet corn eating quality (cor n aroma, grassy aroma, sweetness, starchiness, grassy flavor, crispnes s, tenderness, and juiciness) and overall liking. Single factor analys is of variance revealed significant QTL for all these traits, which ac counted for from 3 to 42% of the total phenotypic variation. A proport ion of the RFLP markers associated with human sensory response were al so found to be associated with kernel characteristics. To our knowledg e this is the first report of the identification of QTL associated wit h human flavor preferences in any food crop.