DETECTION OF LINKAGE BETWEEN RFLP MARKERS AND GENES AFFECTING ANTHOCYANIN PIGMENTATION IN MAIZE (ZEA-MAYS L)

Linkages between molecular markers and genes involved in the expressio n of agronomical traits have already been described in all of the majo r crops. In most cases, the genetic model underlying the Quantitative Traits Loci (QTL) is discussed. Here, Restriction Fragment Length Poly morphisms (RFLPs) and Mapmaker-QTL have been used to pinpoint seven re gions of the genome significantly correlated with four pigmentation qu alitative traits of maize (Zea mays L.). Two of these, located on chro mosomes 2 and 10, explain most of the variation of these traits. The R and B gene loci known to be involved in the regulation of the anthocy anin pathway map to the same regions and we suggest that these loci co uld be the candidate genes involved in the correlations detected with RFLPs. This type of result is in accordance with the hypothesis of the candidate gene which supposes that, if we have a very high density ma p of randomly-selected cDNA clones, it should theoretically be possibl e to associate a cloned genic sequence with a phenotypic trait where c orrelations are found.