Genetic markers associated with drought tolerance in maize

1. A method of identifying and/or selecting a maize plant or maize plant part having increased yield under non-drought conditions, increased yield stability under drought conditions, and/or increased drought tolerance, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting, in a maize plant or maize plant part, an allele of at least one marker locus that is associated with increased yield under non-drought conditions, increased yield stability under drought conditions, and/or increased drought tolerance in a plant, wherein said at least one marker locus is located within a chromosome interval on chromosome 5 defined by and including base pair (bp) position 164854921 to base pair (bp) position 164858109 (Gene Model ID No: GRMZM2G872392), wherein the chromosome interval comprises a haplotype comprising a C allele corresponding to position 164854921; an A allele corresponding to position 164855482; or a G allele at position 164858109;

(b) selecting a maize plant or maize part on the basis of the presence of the at least one allele of a marker locus in (a);

(c) crossing the plant of (b) with a maize plant not comprising said at least one allele of a marker locus;

(d) collecting seed from the cross of (c); and

(e) growing a progeny plant from the seed of (d), wherein said progeny plant comprises in its genome said marker locus that is associated with increased yield under non-drought conditions, increased yield stability under drought conditions, and/or increased drought tolerance in a plant.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plant part in which said at least one marker locus located within said chromosomal interval is detected is regenerated to produce a plant having increased yield under non-drought conditions, increased yield stability under drought conditions, and/or increased drought tolerance.

3. A method of producing an elite maize plant having increased yield under non-drought conditions, increased yield stability under drought conditions, and/or increased drought tolerance, the steps comprising:

(a) crossing a first maize plant or maize germplasm with a second maize plant or maize germplasm, wherein said first maize plant or maize germplasm comprises within its genome a marker associated with increased yield under non-drought conditions, increased yield stability under drought conditions, and/or increased drought tolerance in a maize plant, wherein said marker is located within a chromosome interval on chromosome 5 defined by and including base pair (bp) position 164854921 to base pair (bp) position 164858109 (Gene Model ID No: GRMZM2G872392),wherein the chromosome interval comprises a haplotype consisting of a C allele corresponding to position 164854921; a A allele corresponding to position 164855482; or a G allele at position 164858109;

(b) selecting a maize plant or maize part on the basis of the presence of said haplotype;

(c) creating a progeny plant from (b) comprising said haplotype;

(d) backcrossing to plant of (c) at least two generations; and

(e) crossing the line of (d) to create an elite maize plant or maize germplasm comprising said haplotype of (b).

4. A method for producing a hybrid maize plant having increased yield under non-drought conditions, increased yield stability under drought conditions, and/or increased drought tolerance, the method comprising:

(a) identifying a first maize plant comprising a chromosome interval on chromosome 5 defined by and including base pair (bp) position 164854921 to base pair (bp) position 164858109 (Gene Model ID No: GRMZM2G872392), wherein the chromosome interval comprises a haplotype consisting of a C allele corresponding to position 164854921; a A allele corresponding to position 164855482; or a G allele at position 164858109,

(c) crossing the first maize plant a second maize plant not comprising said haplotype to produce an F1 generation; and

(d) selecting one or more members of the F1 generation that comprises said haplotype whereby a hybrid maize plant having increased yield under non-drought conditions, increased yield stability under drought conditions, and/or increased drought tolerance is produced.