Abstract：Maize yield is quantitative trait with complex genetic basis. Used 191 F2 individuals derived from the cross Yandan14 of maize(Zea mays L.), Mo17×Huangzao4 as genotype, the linkage map was constructed with simple sequence repeat (SSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP ) markers 184 corresponding F2∶3 families were phenotyped for 7 main ear traits of maize in three environments. A mixed linear model approach and its software, QTLmapper/V2.0, were used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controling 7 ear traits. 76 QTLs in three environments, including 8 kernel weight per ear QTLs, 8 ear weight QTLs, 11 kernel product percent QTLs, 10 ear length QTLs, 9 bare tip length QTLs, 10 ear diameter QTLs and 20 axis diameter QTLs, were detected totally. Most QTLs were detected in only one environment. The phenotypic variation explained by single QTL was very small. There were only 5 QTLs with the phenotypic variation explained by additive effect of more than 10%, and most QTLs with the phenotypic variation explained by dominance effect of less than 1%. The percentage of 76 QTLs with the gene action model of additive , part dominance, dominance and over dominance were 29%，47%, 11% and 13% , respectively. The QTLs of ear traits in maize had the distribution characteristics of not uniform, clustered and adjacent in chromosome. The increased-effect allele and the decreased-effect allel on these QTLs were not well-uniform between two parents. Any part could provide the increased-effect or decreased-effect allel. The results of this study will be heuristic and instructive for molecular marker assisted selection (MAS) and parent selection etc in high yield molecular breeding of maize
