Genetic dissection of seed vigour under artificial ageing conditions using two joined maize recombinant inbred line populations

Seed vigour plays an important role in agricultural production, and seeds with high sowing quality are necessary for improving agriculture production. In our study, two connected maize recombinant inbred line ( RIL ) populations derived from Y u82 × S hen137 and Y u537A × S hen137 crosses were evaluated for the mean germination time ( MGT ) and other related traits under three artificial ageing treatments. We used meta‐analysis to integrate genetic maps and identify quantitative trait loci ( QTL s) across the two populations. In total, 74 QTL s and 20 meta‐ QTL s (m QTL s) were identified. Four key m QTL s, m QTL 2‐2, m QTL 5‐4, m QTL 6 and m QTL 8, which contained initial QTL s with R 2 values >10% and included 5–9 initial QTL s, may be hot spots of important QTL s for the associated traits. Twenty‐two key candidate genes associated with four seed vigour‐related traits mapped to 14 m QTL s. In particular, the GRMZM 2 G 163749, GRMZM 2 G 122172/GRMZM2G554885/ GRMZM 2 G 122871 and GRMZM 2 G 150367 genes mapped within the important m QTL 5–4, m QTL 6 and m QTL 8 regions, respectively. Fine mapping for the genetic regions of these three m QTL s merits further study and could be utilized for marker‐assisted breeding.