Fig. 7: QTL and underlying candidate genes for spikelet number per spike.

a Images showing the trait variation for spikelet number per spike and its frequency distribution depicted as histogram. The horizontal scale on the left side of the image showing trait variation for spikelet number per spike indicates the length of the smallest spike L96 (4 cm). b QTL peak obtained using IciMapping software (c) The text shown on the left of the horizontal bars indicate the codes for rRecombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) and the numbers shown on the right indicate the phenotypic trait values depicted as heatmap. L95 and L96 are the parental lines used for the generation of RILs. The horizontal bars indicate the regions covered by the QTL in the interval 808–810 Mb; each bar indicates region covered by each recombinant inbred line (RIL). The orange shaded regions in the horizontal bars represent the allelic regions for the parent 1 (i.e., TA4342-L95) whereas the white colored region in the horizontal bars indicate the allelic regions for the parent 2 (i.e., TA4342-L96). The highest trait values for the parental lines are mentioned in the heat map whereas the range is mentioned separately for both the parents (18 to 22 spikelets for L95 and 14 to 16 spikelets for L96). The range for spikelet number for both the parents is shown separately and the maximum value of the spikelet count for both the parents is depicted in the heat map. d The values mentioned in the brackets indicate the physical interval of the QTL region and the three candidate genes identified in the QTL interval region are also mentioned. e Manhattan plot for spikelet number per spike generated for MTA analysis using CMLM model.