Plant Genome III Conference Plant Genome III Conference
Results of more than 30 studies to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) in maize (Zea mays L.) have been published. Typically, a study includes multiple traits, environments, mapping populations, and/or analysis methods, giving rise to complex data sets. To improve access to and benefits from these data, the USDA-ARS Maize Genome Database Project (MaizeDB) has designed a framework for storing and searching QTL information. The structure includes the following interconnected entities:
*QTL Experiment (a summary of materials and methods and a directory to more detailed information). A QTL Experiment refers to a single population.
*Trait Evaluation Summary (results of phenotypic evaluation for a specific trait and environment, and "raw" phenotypic data when available).
*QTL Linkage Analysis (details of the analysis method; list of QTL detected, their significance,'and effects, for a specific trait and environment).
*Environment (description of location and conditions in which a trait was evaluated). This can be a single environment or a composite-of several.
*Locus (map location of QTL and their support intervals). Here QTL are integrated into the Locus entity that includes all loci detected by classical and molecular genetic methods).
*Mapping Panel and Map Scores (information on the population mapped and genotype scores).
Searching the compiled data will be demonstrated via an on-line connection to MaizeDB.