Maize(Zea mays),which is a vital source of food,feed,and energy feedstock globally,has significant potential for higher yields.However,environmental stress conditions,including drought and salt stress,severely restric...Maize(Zea mays),which is a vital source of food,feed,and energy feedstock globally,has significant potential for higher yields.However,environmental stress conditions,including drought and salt stress,severely restrict maize plant growth and development,leading to great yield losses.Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases(LRR-RLKs)function in biotic and abiotic stress responses in the model plant Arabidopsis(Arabidopsis thaliana),but their roles in abiotic stress responses in maize are not entirely understood.In this study,we determine that the LRR-RLK ZmMIK2,a homolog of the Arabidopsis LRR-RK MALE DISCOVERER 1(MDIS1)-INTERACTING RECEPTOR LIKE KINASE 2(MIK2),functions in resistance to both drought and salt stress in maize.Zmmik2 plants exhibit enhanced resistance to both stresses,whereas overexpressing ZmMIK2 confers the opposite phenotypes.Furthermore,we identify C2-DOMAIN-CONTAINING PROTEIN 1(ZmC2DP1),which interacts with the intracellular region of ZmMIK2.Notably,that region of ZmMIK2 mediates the phosphorylation of ZmC2DP1,likely by increasing its stability.Both ZmMIK2 and ZmC2DP1 are mainly expressed in roots.As with ZmMIK2,knockout of ZmC2DP1 enhances resistance to both drought and salt stress.We conclude that ZmMIK2-ZmC2DP1 acts as a negative regulatory module in maize drought-and salt-stress responses.展开更多
Nitrogen(N)is vital for crop growth and yield,impacting food quality.However,excessive use of N fertilizers leads to high agricultural costs and environmental challenges.This review offers a thorough synthesis of the ...Nitrogen(N)is vital for crop growth and yield,impacting food quality.However,excessive use of N fertilizers leads to high agricultural costs and environmental challenges.This review offers a thorough synthesis of the genetic and molecular regulation of N uptake,assimilation,and remobilization in maize,emphasizing the role of key genes and metabolic pathways in enhancing N use efficiency(NUE).We summarize the genetic regulators of N transports for nitrate(NO3−)and ammonium(NH4+)that contribute to efficient N uptake and transportation.We further discuss the molecular mechanisms by which root system development adapts to N distribution and how N influences root system development and growth.Given the advancements in high-throughput microbiome studies,we delve into the impact of rhizosphere microorganisms on NUE and the complex plant-microbe interactions that regulate maize NUE.Additionally,we conclude with intricate regulatory mechanisms of N assimilation and remobilization in maize,involving key enzymes,transcription factors,and amino acid transporters.We also scrutinize the known N signaling perception and transduction mechanisms in maize.This review underscores the challenges in improving maize NUE and advocates for an integrative research approach that leverages genetic diversity and synthetic biology,paving the way for sustainable agriculture.展开更多
Maize(Zea mays L.)is a globally significant crop essential for food,feed,and bioenergy production.The maize kernel,serving as a primary sink for starch,proteins,lipids,and essential micronutrients,is crucial for enhan...Maize(Zea mays L.)is a globally significant crop essential for food,feed,and bioenergy production.The maize kernel,serving as a primary sink for starch,proteins,lipids,and essential micronutrients,is crucial for enhancing maize yield and quality.Previous studies have established the critical role of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2(PRC2)in regulating kernel development.In this study,we applied a reverse genetics approach to investigate the role of ZmFIE1,the homolog of the PRC2 complex component Extra sex combs(Esc),in maize development.The functional loss of ZmFIE1 significantly reduces embryo size in the early stage but has a relatively small impact on mature kernels.Integrating transcriptional and metabolomic profiling suggests that ZmFIE1 is involved in regulating nutrient balance between the endosperm and embryo.In addition,we demonstrate that ZmFIE1 is maternally expressed,and that the maternal inheritance of the fie1 allele significantly affects the imprinting status of paternally imprinted genes.Overall,our results suggest that ZmFIE1 is a key gene involved in the modulation of embryo development via regulating genomic imprinting and nutrient balance between embryo and endosperm,which provides new insights into the regulation mechanism underlying kernel development.展开更多
Lipid remodeling is crucial for cold tolerance in plants.However,the precise alternations of lipidomics during cold responses remain elusive,especially in maize(Zea mays L.).In addition,the key genes responsible for c...Lipid remodeling is crucial for cold tolerance in plants.However,the precise alternations of lipidomics during cold responses remain elusive,especially in maize(Zea mays L.).In addition,the key genes responsible for cold tolerance in maize lipid metabolism have not been identified.Here,we integrate lipidomic,transcriptomic,and genetic analysis to determine the profile of lipid remodeling caused by cold stress.We find that the homeostasis of cellular lipid metabolism is essential for maintaining cold tolerance of maize.Also,we detect 210 lipid species belonging to 13 major classes,covering phospholipids,glycerides,glycolipids,and free fatty acids.Various lipid metabolites undergo specific and selective alterations in response to cold stress,especially mono-/di-unsaturated lysophosphatidic acid,lysophosphatidylcholine,phosphatidylcholine,and phosphatidylinositol,as well as polyunsaturated phosphatidic acid,monogalactosyldiacylglycerol,diacylglycerol,and triacylglycerol.In addition,we identify a subset of key enzymes,including ketoacyl-acyl-carrier protein synthase II(KAS II),acyl-carrier protein 2(ACP2),male sterility33(Ms33),and stearoyl-acyl-carrier protein desaturase 2(SAD2)involved in glycerolipid biosynthetic pathways are positive regulators of maize cold tolerance.These results reveal a comprehensive lipidomic profile during the cold response of maize and provide genetic resources for enhancing cold tolerance in crops.展开更多
Regulation of iron homeostasis in maize remains unclear,despite the known roles of FER-Like Fe deficiency-induced transcription factor(FIT)in Arabidopsis and rice.ZmFIT,like At FIT and Os FIT,interacts with iron-relat...Regulation of iron homeostasis in maize remains unclear,despite the known roles of FER-Like Fe deficiency-induced transcription factor(FIT)in Arabidopsis and rice.ZmFIT,like At FIT and Os FIT,interacts with iron-related transcription factors 2(ZmIRO2).Here,we investigate the involvement of ZmFIT in iron homeostasis.Mutant ZmFIT lines exhibiting symptoms of Fe deficiency had reduced shoot iron content.Transcriptome analysis revealed downregulation of Fe deficiency-responsive genes in the roots of a Zmfit mutant.ZmFIT facilitates the nuclear translocation of ZmIRO2 to activate transcription of downstream genes under Fe-deficient conditions.Our findings suggest that ZmFIT,by interaction with ZmIRO2,mediates iron homeostasis in maize.Notably,the binding and activation mechanisms of ZmFIT resemble those in Arabidopsis but differ from those in rice,whereas downstream genes regulated by ZmFIT show similarities to rice but differences from Arabidopsis.In brief,ZmFIT,orthgologs of Os FIT and At FIT in rice and maize,respectively,regulates iron uptake and homeostasis in maize,but with variations.展开更多
Grain water content(GWC)is a key determinant for mechanical harvesting of maize(Zea mays).In our previous research,we identified a quantitative trait locus,qGWC1,associated with GWC in maize.Here,we examined near-isog...Grain water content(GWC)is a key determinant for mechanical harvesting of maize(Zea mays).In our previous research,we identified a quantitative trait locus,qGWC1,associated with GWC in maize.Here,we examined near-isogenic lines(NILs)NILL and NILH that differed at the qGWC1 locus.Lower GWC in NILL was primarily attributed to reduced grain water weight(GWW)and smaller fresh grain size,rather than the accumulation of dry matter.The difference in GWC between the NILs became more pronounced approximately 35 d after pollination(DAP),arising from a faster dehydration rate in NILL.Through an integrated analysis of the transcriptome,proteome,and metabolome,coupled with an examination of hormones and their derivatives,we detected a marked decrease in JA,along with an increase in cytokinin,storage forms of IAA(IAA-Glu,IAA-ASP),and IAA precursor IPA in immature NILL kernels.During kernel development,genes associated with sucrose synthases,starch biosynthesis,and zein production in NILL,exhibited an initial up-regulation followed by a gradual down-regulation,compared to those in NILH.This discovery highlights the crucial role of phytohormone homeostasis and genes related to kernel development in balancing GWC and dry matter accumulation in maize kernels.展开更多
The mechanization of maize harvest plays a pivotal role in global food security and agricultural productivity.However,in China and many other countries,maize harvesting remains largely unmechanized,with less than 5%of...The mechanization of maize harvest plays a pivotal role in global food security and agricultural productivity.However,in China and many other countries,maize harvesting remains largely unmechanized,with less than 5%of grain harvested mechanically in China.This is primarily due to the high kernel water content(KWC)at harvest,which typically exceeds 30%in major maize cultivars(Li et al.,2018),surpassing the 25%threshold recommended for mechanical harvesting.High KWC prolongs the growing season,raises costs,and reduces grain quality.展开更多
Beneficial root-microbiome interactions offer enormous potential to improve crop performance and stress tolerance.Domestication and improvement reduced the genetic diversity of crops and reshaped their phenotypic trai...Beneficial root-microbiome interactions offer enormous potential to improve crop performance and stress tolerance.Domestication and improvement reduced the genetic diversity of crops and reshaped their phenotypic traits and their associated microbiome structure and function.However,understanding of the genetic and physiological mechanisms how domestication and improvement modulated root function,microbiome assembly and even coselective patterns remains largely elusive.This review summarizes the current status of how crop domestication and improvement(heterosis)affected root characteristics and their associated microbiome structure and function.Also,it assesses potential mechanisms how crop domestication and improvement reshaped root-microbiome association through gene regulation,root structure and function and root exudate features.A hypothetical strategy is proposed that entangles crop genetics and abiotic interactions with beneficial microbiomes to mitigate the effects of global climate change on crop performance.A comprehensive understanding of the role of crop domestication and improvement in root-associated microbiome interaction will advance future breeding efforts and agricultural management.展开更多
Epigenetic mechanisms are integral to plant growth,development,and adaptation to environmental stimuli.Over the past two decades,our comprehension of these complex regulatory processes has expanded remarkably,producin...Epigenetic mechanisms are integral to plant growth,development,and adaptation to environmental stimuli.Over the past two decades,our comprehension of these complex regulatory processes has expanded remarkably,producing a substantial body of knowledge on both locus-specific mechanisms and genome-wide regulatory patterns.Studies initially grounded in the model plant Arabidopsis have been broadened to encompass a diverse array of crop species,revealing the multifaceted roles of epigenetics in physiological and agronomic traits.With recent technological advancements,epigenetic regulations at the single-cell level and at the large-scale population level are emerging as new focuses.This review offers an in-depth synthesis of the diverse epigenetic regulations,detailing the catalytic machinery and regulatory functions.It delves into the intricate interplay among various epigenetic elements and their collective influence on the modulation of crop traits.Furthermore,it examines recent breakthroughs in technologies for epigenetic modifications and their integration into strategies for crop improvement.The review underscores the transformative potential of epigenetic strategies in bolstering crop performance,advocating for the development of efficient tools to fully exploit the agricultural benefits of epigenetic insights.展开更多
Soil salinity is a worldwide problem that adversely affects plant growth and crop productivity. The salt overly sensitive (SOS) pathway is evolutionarily conserved and essential for plant salt tolerance. In this study...Soil salinity is a worldwide problem that adversely affects plant growth and crop productivity. The salt overly sensitive (SOS) pathway is evolutionarily conserved and essential for plant salt tolerance. In this study, we reveal how the maize shaggy/glycogen synthase kinase 3-like kinases ZmSK3 and ZmSK4, orthologs of brassinosteroid insensitive 2 in Arabidopsis thaliana, regulate the maize SOS pathway. ZmSK3 and ZmSK4 interact with and phosphorylate ZmSOS2, a core member of the maize SOS pathway. The mutants defective in ZmSK3 or ZmSK4 are hyposensitive to salt stress, with higher salt-induced activity of ZmSOS2 than that in the wild type. Furthermore, the Ca^(2+) sensors ZmSOS3 and ZmSOS3-like calcium binding protein 8 (ZmSCaBP8) activate ZmSOS2 to maintain Na^(+)/K^(+) homeostasis under salt stress and may participate in the regulation of ZmSOS2 by ZmSK3 and ZmSK4. These findings discover the regulation of the maize SOS pathway and provide important gene targets for breeding salt-tolerant maize.展开更多
Grain protein content(GPC)is an indicator of cereal nutritional quality.Identification of genes involved in the regulation of GPC provides targets for molecular breeding for crop protein quality.We characterized a mai...Grain protein content(GPC)is an indicator of cereal nutritional quality.Identification of genes involved in the regulation of GPC provides targets for molecular breeding for crop protein quality.We characterized a maize gene encoding the putative amino acid transporter ZmAAP6,a gene expressed mainly in immature seeds,especially in the basal endosperm transfer layer.Total protein and zein contents were decreased in ZmAAP6 null mutants and increased in ZmAAP6 overexpression(OE)lines,consistent with their changed in the size of protein bodies.Metabolic and transcriptomic analysis supported the regulatory role of ZmAAP6 in amino acid transportation.These results suggest that ZmAAP6 functions as a positive regulator of GPC in maize,shedding new light on the genetic basis of GPC regulation.展开更多
DNA sequencing is vital for many aspects of biological research and diagnostics. Despite the development of second and third generation sequencing technologies, Sanger sequencing has long been the only choice when req...DNA sequencing is vital for many aspects of biological research and diagnostics. Despite the development of second and third generation sequencing technologies, Sanger sequencing has long been the only choice when required to precisely track each sequenced plasmids or DNA fragments. Here, we report a complete set of novel barcoding and assembling system, Highly-parallel Indexed Tagmentation-reads Assembled Consensus sequencing(HITAC-seq), that could massively sequence and track the identities of each individual sequencing sample. With the cost of much less than that of single read of Sanger sequencing,HITAC-seq can generate high-quality contiguous sequences of up to 10 kilobases or longer. The capability of HITAC-seq was confirmed through large-scale sequencing of thousands of plasmid clones and hundreds of amplicon fragments using approximately 100 pg of input DNAs. Due to its long synthetic length, HITACseq was effective in detecting relatively large structural variations, as demonstrated by the identification of a~1.3 kb Copia retrotransposon insertion in the upstream of a likely maize domestication gene. Besides being a practical alternative to traditional Sanger sequencing, HITAC-seq is suitable for many highthroughput sequencing and genotyping applications.展开更多
Excess soil salinity affects large regions of land and is a major hindrance to crop production worldwide.Therefore,understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant salt tolerance has scientific importance and practical...Excess soil salinity affects large regions of land and is a major hindrance to crop production worldwide.Therefore,understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant salt tolerance has scientific importance and practical significance.In recent decades,studies have characterized hundreds of genes associated with plant responses to salt stress in different plant species.These studies have substantially advanced our molecular and genetic understanding of salt tolerance in plants and have introduced an era of molecular design breeding of salt-tolerant crops.This review summarizes our current knowledge of plant salt tolerance,emphasizing advances in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of osmotic stress tolerance,salt-ion transport and compartmentalization,oxidative stress tolerance,alkaline stress tolerance,and the trade-off between growth and salt tolerance.We also examine recent advances in understanding natural variation in the salt tolerance of crops and discuss possible strategies and challenges for designing salt stress-resilient crops.We focus on the model plant Arabidopsis(Arabidopsis thaliana)and the four most-studied crops:rice(Oryza sativa),wheat(Triticum aestivum),maize(Zea mays),and soybean(Glycine max).展开更多
Plants adaptively change their cell wall composition and structure during their growth,development,and interactions with environmental stresses.Dirigent proteins(DIRs)contribute to environmental adaptations by dynamic...Plants adaptively change their cell wall composition and structure during their growth,development,and interactions with environmental stresses.Dirigent proteins(DIRs)contribute to environmental adaptations by dynamically reorganizing the cell wall and/or by generating defense compounds.A maize DIR,ZmDRR206,was previously reported to play a dominant role in regulation of storage nutrient accumulation in endosperm during maize kernel development.Here we show that ZmDRR206 mediates maize seedling growth and disease resistance by coordinately regulating biosynthesis of cell wall components for cell-wall integrity(CWI)maintenance.Expression of ZmDRR206 was induced in maize seedlings upon pathogen infection.ZmDRR206 overexpression in maize resulted in reduced seedling growth and photosynthetic activity but increased disease resistance and drought tolerance,revealing a tradeoff between growth and defense.Consistently,ZmDRR206 overexpression reduced the contents of primary metabolites and down-regulated genes involved in photosynthesis,while increasing the contents of major cell wall components,defense phytohormones,and defense metabolites,and up-regulated genes involved in defense and cell-wall biosynthesis in seedlings.ZmDRR206-overexpressing seedlings were resistant to cell-wall stress imposed by isoxaben,and ZmDRR206 physically interacted with ZmCesA10,which is a cellulose synthase unit.Our findings suggest a mechanism by which ZmDRR206 coordinately regulates biosynthesis of cell-wall components for CWI maintenance during maize seedling growth,and might be exploited for breeding strong disease resistance in maize.展开更多
Ear-related traits are often selection targets for maize improvement. This study used an immortalized F(IF) population to elucidate the genetic basis of ear-related traits. Twelve ear-related traits(namely, row number...Ear-related traits are often selection targets for maize improvement. This study used an immortalized F(IF) population to elucidate the genetic basis of ear-related traits. Twelve ear-related traits(namely, row number(RN), kernel number per row(KNPR), ear length(EL), ear diameter(ED), ten-kernel thickness(TKT), ear weight(EW), cob diameter(CD),kernel length(KL), kernel width(KW), grain weight per ear(GW), 100-kernel weight(HKW), and grain yield per plot(GY)),were collected from the IFpopulation. The ear-related traits were comprised of 265 crosses derived from 516 individuals of the recombinant inbred lines(RILs) under two separated environments in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Quantitative trait loci(QTLs) analyses identified 165 ear traits related QTLs, which explained phenotypic variation ranging from 0.1 to 12.66%. Among the 165 QTLs, 19 underlying nine ear-related traits(CD, ED, GY, RN, TKT, HKW, KL, GW, and KNPR)were identified across multiple environments and recognized as reliable QTLs. Furthermore, 44.85% of the total QTLs showed an overdominance effect, and 12.72% showed a dominance effect. Additionally, we found 35 genomic regions exhibiting pleiotropic effects across the whole maize genome, and 17 heterotic loci(HLs) for RN, EL, ED and EW were identified. The results provide insights into genetic components of ear-related traits and enhance the understanding of the genetic basis of heterosis in maize.展开更多
Shoot architecture in maize is critical since it determines resource use,impacts wind and rain damage tolerance,and affects yield stability.Quantifying the diversity among inbred lines in heterosis breeding is essenti...Shoot architecture in maize is critical since it determines resource use,impacts wind and rain damage tolerance,and affects yield stability.Quantifying the diversity among inbred lines in heterosis breeding is essential,especially when describing germplasm resources.However,traditional geometric description methods oversimplify shoot architecture and ignore the plant’s overall architecture,making it difficult to reflect and illustrate diversity.This study presents a new method to describe maize shoot architecture and quantifies its diversity by combining computer vision algorithms and persistent homology.Our results reveal that persistent homology can capture key characteristics of shoot architecture in maize and other details often overlooked by traditional geometric analysis.Based on this method,the morphological diversity of shoot architecture can be mined(quantified),and the main shoot architecture types can be obtained.Consequently,this method can easily describe the diversity of shoot architecture in many maize materials.展开更多
Dear Editor,Multi-omics association analysis is a key method in crop germplasm research,helping to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of agronomic traits(Liu et al.,2020;Liang et al.,2021).However,most existing multi...Dear Editor,Multi-omics association analysis is a key method in crop germplasm research,helping to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of agronomic traits(Liu et al.,2020;Liang et al.,2021).However,most existing multi-omics association studies focus on omics data under a single condition,posing challenges in identifying stress-related agronomically important genes.This difficultymainly arises fromthe increased complexity ofmulti-omics analyseswhen comparing control and stress conditions.展开更多
Dear Editor,Genome editing tools are leading a revolution in plant breeding.In particular,prime editors(PEs)can install all types of base changes and small insertions/deletions at precise positions in plant genomes(An...Dear Editor,Genome editing tools are leading a revolution in plant breeding.In particular,prime editors(PEs)can install all types of base changes and small insertions/deletions at precise positions in plant genomes(Anzalone et al.,2019).PEs are by far the most powerful approach for improving traits conferred by gain-of-function point mutations.Early versions of PEs suffered from low editing efficiency,but the latest PEs can perform edits at a much higher efficiency thanks to the extensive efforts of re-searchers from around the world.Most modifications to improve PE efficiency have focused on the optimization of PE protein components and structure.展开更多
Maize(Zea mays ssp.mays)was domesticated approximately 9,000 years ago from Zea mays ssp.parviglumis,a lowland teosinte native to southwestern Mexico(Matsuoka et al.,2002).From the tropical origin,maize has spread int...Maize(Zea mays ssp.mays)was domesticated approximately 9,000 years ago from Zea mays ssp.parviglumis,a lowland teosinte native to southwestern Mexico(Matsuoka et al.,2002).From the tropical origin,maize has spread into a wide range of temperate regions with high latitudes and altitudes.Flowering time is a critical trait determining plant local adaptation.Several flowering time genes contributing to maize latitudinal adaptation have been identified(Yang et al.,2013;Guo et al.,2018;Huang et al.,2018;Liang et al.,2019;Wu et al.,2023).In contrast,the genetic mechanisms enabling maize adaptation to high-altitude environments remain poorly understood.展开更多
The calcineurin B-like protein(CBL)-CBL-interacting protein kinase(CIPK)Ca^(2+) sensors play crucial roles in the plant's response to drought stress.However,there have been few reports on the synergistic regulatio...The calcineurin B-like protein(CBL)-CBL-interacting protein kinase(CIPK)Ca^(2+) sensors play crucial roles in the plant's response to drought stress.However,there have been few reports on the synergistic regulation of drought stress by CBL-CIPK and abscisic acid(ABA)core signaling components.In this study,we discovered that ZmCIPK33 positively regulates drought resistance in maize.ZmCIPK33 physically interacts with and is enhanced by phosphorylation from ZmSnRK2.10.Drought stress can activate ZmCIPK33,which is partially dependent on ZmSnRK2.10.ZmCIPK33 in combination with ZmSnRK2.10 can activate the slow anion channel ZmSLAC1 in Xenopus laevis oocytes independently of CBLs,whereas ZmCIPK33 or ZmSnRK2.10 alone is unable to do so.Furthermore,ZmCIPK33 phosphorylates ZmPP2C11 at Ser60,which leads to a reduction in the interaction between ZmPP2C11 and ZmEAR1(the ortholog of Arabidopsis Enhancer of ABA co-Receptor 1)and weakens the phosphatase activity of ZmPP2C11,consequently,enhancing the activity of ZmSnRK2.10 in an in vitro assay and in the in-gel assay of the zmcipk33 mutant.Our findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the reciprocal enhancement of Ca^(2+) and ABA signaling under drought stress in maize.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFD1200703 and 2022YFF1001602)the National Science Foundation of China(32272024 and 32171940)+2 种基金the Pinduoduo-China Agricultural University Research Fund(PC2023B01001)the Chinese Universities Scientific Fund(2022TC142)the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University。
文摘Maize(Zea mays),which is a vital source of food,feed,and energy feedstock globally,has significant potential for higher yields.However,environmental stress conditions,including drought and salt stress,severely restrict maize plant growth and development,leading to great yield losses.Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases(LRR-RLKs)function in biotic and abiotic stress responses in the model plant Arabidopsis(Arabidopsis thaliana),but their roles in abiotic stress responses in maize are not entirely understood.In this study,we determine that the LRR-RLK ZmMIK2,a homolog of the Arabidopsis LRR-RK MALE DISCOVERER 1(MDIS1)-INTERACTING RECEPTOR LIKE KINASE 2(MIK2),functions in resistance to both drought and salt stress in maize.Zmmik2 plants exhibit enhanced resistance to both stresses,whereas overexpressing ZmMIK2 confers the opposite phenotypes.Furthermore,we identify C2-DOMAIN-CONTAINING PROTEIN 1(ZmC2DP1),which interacts with the intracellular region of ZmMIK2.Notably,that region of ZmMIK2 mediates the phosphorylation of ZmC2DP1,likely by increasing its stability.Both ZmMIK2 and ZmC2DP1 are mainly expressed in roots.As with ZmMIK2,knockout of ZmC2DP1 enhances resistance to both drought and salt stress.We conclude that ZmMIK2-ZmC2DP1 acts as a negative regulatory module in maize drought-and salt-stress responses.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFF1000500 to L.Y.)the High-Level Talents Research Startup Fund of China Agricultural University(00114342 and 10092010 to J.L.)Pinduoduo-China Agricultural University Research Fund(PC2024B01009 to Z.J.).
文摘Nitrogen(N)is vital for crop growth and yield,impacting food quality.However,excessive use of N fertilizers leads to high agricultural costs and environmental challenges.This review offers a thorough synthesis of the genetic and molecular regulation of N uptake,assimilation,and remobilization in maize,emphasizing the role of key genes and metabolic pathways in enhancing N use efficiency(NUE).We summarize the genetic regulators of N transports for nitrate(NO3−)and ammonium(NH4+)that contribute to efficient N uptake and transportation.We further discuss the molecular mechanisms by which root system development adapts to N distribution and how N influences root system development and growth.Given the advancements in high-throughput microbiome studies,we delve into the impact of rhizosphere microorganisms on NUE and the complex plant-microbe interactions that regulate maize NUE.Additionally,we conclude with intricate regulatory mechanisms of N assimilation and remobilization in maize,involving key enzymes,transcription factors,and amino acid transporters.We also scrutinize the known N signaling perception and transduction mechanisms in maize.This review underscores the challenges in improving maize NUE and advocates for an integrative research approach that leverages genetic diversity and synthetic biology,paving the way for sustainable agriculture.
基金supported by STI2030-Major Projects(2023ZD04069,Z231100003723004)the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(32425041)the Chinese Universities Scientific Fund(2024TC165).
文摘Maize(Zea mays L.)is a globally significant crop essential for food,feed,and bioenergy production.The maize kernel,serving as a primary sink for starch,proteins,lipids,and essential micronutrients,is crucial for enhancing maize yield and quality.Previous studies have established the critical role of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2(PRC2)in regulating kernel development.In this study,we applied a reverse genetics approach to investigate the role of ZmFIE1,the homolog of the PRC2 complex component Extra sex combs(Esc),in maize development.The functional loss of ZmFIE1 significantly reduces embryo size in the early stage but has a relatively small impact on mature kernels.Integrating transcriptional and metabolomic profiling suggests that ZmFIE1 is involved in regulating nutrient balance between the endosperm and embryo.In addition,we demonstrate that ZmFIE1 is maternally expressed,and that the maternal inheritance of the fie1 allele significantly affects the imprinting status of paternally imprinted genes.Overall,our results suggest that ZmFIE1 is a key gene involved in the modulation of embryo development via regulating genomic imprinting and nutrient balance between embryo and endosperm,which provides new insights into the regulation mechanism underlying kernel development.
基金supported by grants from the State Key Project of Research and Development Plan(2022YFF1001603)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32022008,32272025,and 31921001)the Chinese Universities Scientific Fund(2022TC137 and 2023TC019).
文摘Lipid remodeling is crucial for cold tolerance in plants.However,the precise alternations of lipidomics during cold responses remain elusive,especially in maize(Zea mays L.).In addition,the key genes responsible for cold tolerance in maize lipid metabolism have not been identified.Here,we integrate lipidomic,transcriptomic,and genetic analysis to determine the profile of lipid remodeling caused by cold stress.We find that the homeostasis of cellular lipid metabolism is essential for maintaining cold tolerance of maize.Also,we detect 210 lipid species belonging to 13 major classes,covering phospholipids,glycerides,glycolipids,and free fatty acids.Various lipid metabolites undergo specific and selective alterations in response to cold stress,especially mono-/di-unsaturated lysophosphatidic acid,lysophosphatidylcholine,phosphatidylcholine,and phosphatidylinositol,as well as polyunsaturated phosphatidic acid,monogalactosyldiacylglycerol,diacylglycerol,and triacylglycerol.In addition,we identify a subset of key enzymes,including ketoacyl-acyl-carrier protein synthase II(KAS II),acyl-carrier protein 2(ACP2),male sterility33(Ms33),and stearoyl-acyl-carrier protein desaturase 2(SAD2)involved in glycerolipid biosynthetic pathways are positive regulators of maize cold tolerance.These results reveal a comprehensive lipidomic profile during the cold response of maize and provide genetic resources for enhancing cold tolerance in crops.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFF1000304)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32001550)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFD1200700,2023YFD1202903)。
文摘Regulation of iron homeostasis in maize remains unclear,despite the known roles of FER-Like Fe deficiency-induced transcription factor(FIT)in Arabidopsis and rice.ZmFIT,like At FIT and Os FIT,interacts with iron-related transcription factors 2(ZmIRO2).Here,we investigate the involvement of ZmFIT in iron homeostasis.Mutant ZmFIT lines exhibiting symptoms of Fe deficiency had reduced shoot iron content.Transcriptome analysis revealed downregulation of Fe deficiency-responsive genes in the roots of a Zmfit mutant.ZmFIT facilitates the nuclear translocation of ZmIRO2 to activate transcription of downstream genes under Fe-deficient conditions.Our findings suggest that ZmFIT,by interaction with ZmIRO2,mediates iron homeostasis in maize.Notably,the binding and activation mechanisms of ZmFIT resemble those in Arabidopsis but differ from those in rice,whereas downstream genes regulated by ZmFIT show similarities to rice but differences from Arabidopsis.In brief,ZmFIT,orthgologs of Os FIT and At FIT in rice and maize,respectively,regulates iron uptake and homeostasis in maize,but with variations.
基金supported by the Jiangsu province Seed Industry Revitalization project[JBGS(2021)002]Beijing Germplasm Creation and Variety Selection and Breeding Joint Project[NY2023-180].
文摘Grain water content(GWC)is a key determinant for mechanical harvesting of maize(Zea mays).In our previous research,we identified a quantitative trait locus,qGWC1,associated with GWC in maize.Here,we examined near-isogenic lines(NILs)NILL and NILH that differed at the qGWC1 locus.Lower GWC in NILL was primarily attributed to reduced grain water weight(GWW)and smaller fresh grain size,rather than the accumulation of dry matter.The difference in GWC between the NILs became more pronounced approximately 35 d after pollination(DAP),arising from a faster dehydration rate in NILL.Through an integrated analysis of the transcriptome,proteome,and metabolome,coupled with an examination of hormones and their derivatives,we detected a marked decrease in JA,along with an increase in cytokinin,storage forms of IAA(IAA-Glu,IAA-ASP),and IAA precursor IPA in immature NILL kernels.During kernel development,genes associated with sucrose synthases,starch biosynthesis,and zein production in NILL,exhibited an initial up-regulation followed by a gradual down-regulation,compared to those in NILH.This discovery highlights the crucial role of phytohormone homeostasis and genes related to kernel development in balancing GWC and dry matter accumulation in maize kernels.
文摘The mechanization of maize harvest plays a pivotal role in global food security and agricultural productivity.However,in China and many other countries,maize harvesting remains largely unmechanized,with less than 5%of grain harvested mechanically in China.This is primarily due to the high kernel water content(KWC)at harvest,which typically exceeds 30%in major maize cultivars(Li et al.,2018),surpassing the 25%threshold recommended for mechanical harvesting.High KWC prolongs the growing season,raises costs,and reduces grain quality.
基金supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(DFG)grant Emmy Noether Programme(444755415)DFG Priority Program(SPP2089)Rhizosphere Spatiotemporal Organisation—A Key to Rhizosphere Functions grant(403671039)。
文摘Beneficial root-microbiome interactions offer enormous potential to improve crop performance and stress tolerance.Domestication and improvement reduced the genetic diversity of crops and reshaped their phenotypic traits and their associated microbiome structure and function.However,understanding of the genetic and physiological mechanisms how domestication and improvement modulated root function,microbiome assembly and even coselective patterns remains largely elusive.This review summarizes the current status of how crop domestication and improvement(heterosis)affected root characteristics and their associated microbiome structure and function.Also,it assesses potential mechanisms how crop domestication and improvement reshaped root-microbiome association through gene regulation,root structure and function and root exudate features.A hypothetical strategy is proposed that entangles crop genetics and abiotic interactions with beneficial microbiomes to mitigate the effects of global climate change on crop performance.A comprehensive understanding of the role of crop domestication and improvement in root-associated microbiome interaction will advance future breeding efforts and agricultural management.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32330019 to Cao X.,31701060 to Zhu B.)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2024YFF1000304 to Duan C.G.)+1 种基金Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(22XD1420200,22TQ014 to Ren G.)Taishan Scholar Foundation of Shandong Province(tsqn202211301 to Luo X.)。
文摘Epigenetic mechanisms are integral to plant growth,development,and adaptation to environmental stimuli.Over the past two decades,our comprehension of these complex regulatory processes has expanded remarkably,producing a substantial body of knowledge on both locus-specific mechanisms and genome-wide regulatory patterns.Studies initially grounded in the model plant Arabidopsis have been broadened to encompass a diverse array of crop species,revealing the multifaceted roles of epigenetics in physiological and agronomic traits.With recent technological advancements,epigenetic regulations at the single-cell level and at the large-scale population level are emerging as new focuses.This review offers an in-depth synthesis of the diverse epigenetic regulations,detailing the catalytic machinery and regulatory functions.It delves into the intricate interplay among various epigenetic elements and their collective influence on the modulation of crop traits.Furthermore,it examines recent breakthroughs in technologies for epigenetic modifications and their integration into strategies for crop improvement.The review underscores the transformative potential of epigenetic strategies in bolstering crop performance,advocating for the development of efficient tools to fully exploit the agricultural benefits of epigenetic insights.
基金This work was supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFF1001601 and 2022YFA1303400)supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32100234 and 31921001).
文摘Soil salinity is a worldwide problem that adversely affects plant growth and crop productivity. The salt overly sensitive (SOS) pathway is evolutionarily conserved and essential for plant salt tolerance. In this study, we reveal how the maize shaggy/glycogen synthase kinase 3-like kinases ZmSK3 and ZmSK4, orthologs of brassinosteroid insensitive 2 in Arabidopsis thaliana, regulate the maize SOS pathway. ZmSK3 and ZmSK4 interact with and phosphorylate ZmSOS2, a core member of the maize SOS pathway. The mutants defective in ZmSK3 or ZmSK4 are hyposensitive to salt stress, with higher salt-induced activity of ZmSOS2 than that in the wild type. Furthermore, the Ca^(2+) sensors ZmSOS3 and ZmSOS3-like calcium binding protein 8 (ZmSCaBP8) activate ZmSOS2 to maintain Na^(+)/K^(+) homeostasis under salt stress and may participate in the regulation of ZmSOS2 by ZmSK3 and ZmSK4. These findings discover the regulation of the maize SOS pathway and provide important gene targets for breeding salt-tolerant maize.
基金supported by the 2022 Research Program of Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City(SYND-2022-10 to Wei Huang and SYND-2022-03 to Weiwei Jin)。
文摘Grain protein content(GPC)is an indicator of cereal nutritional quality.Identification of genes involved in the regulation of GPC provides targets for molecular breeding for crop protein quality.We characterized a maize gene encoding the putative amino acid transporter ZmAAP6,a gene expressed mainly in immature seeds,especially in the basal endosperm transfer layer.Total protein and zein contents were decreased in ZmAAP6 null mutants and increased in ZmAAP6 overexpression(OE)lines,consistent with their changed in the size of protein bodies.Metabolic and transcriptomic analysis supported the regulatory role of ZmAAP6 in amino acid transportation.These results suggest that ZmAAP6 functions as a positive regulator of GPC in maize,shedding new light on the genetic basis of GPC regulation.
基金supported by grants from National Key Research and Development Program (2016YFD0101803-04)National Natural Science Foundation of China (31421005 and 91935303)。
文摘DNA sequencing is vital for many aspects of biological research and diagnostics. Despite the development of second and third generation sequencing technologies, Sanger sequencing has long been the only choice when required to precisely track each sequenced plasmids or DNA fragments. Here, we report a complete set of novel barcoding and assembling system, Highly-parallel Indexed Tagmentation-reads Assembled Consensus sequencing(HITAC-seq), that could massively sequence and track the identities of each individual sequencing sample. With the cost of much less than that of single read of Sanger sequencing,HITAC-seq can generate high-quality contiguous sequences of up to 10 kilobases or longer. The capability of HITAC-seq was confirmed through large-scale sequencing of thousands of plasmid clones and hundreds of amplicon fragments using approximately 100 pg of input DNAs. Due to its long synthetic length, HITACseq was effective in detecting relatively large structural variations, as demonstrated by the identification of a~1.3 kb Copia retrotransposon insertion in the upstream of a likely maize domestication gene. Besides being a practical alternative to traditional Sanger sequencing, HITAC-seq is suitable for many highthroughput sequencing and genotyping applications.
基金financial support from the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(32325037)the China National Key Program for Research and Development(2022YFA1303400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32201718 and 32100234)。
文摘Excess soil salinity affects large regions of land and is a major hindrance to crop production worldwide.Therefore,understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant salt tolerance has scientific importance and practical significance.In recent decades,studies have characterized hundreds of genes associated with plant responses to salt stress in different plant species.These studies have substantially advanced our molecular and genetic understanding of salt tolerance in plants and have introduced an era of molecular design breeding of salt-tolerant crops.This review summarizes our current knowledge of plant salt tolerance,emphasizing advances in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of osmotic stress tolerance,salt-ion transport and compartmentalization,oxidative stress tolerance,alkaline stress tolerance,and the trade-off between growth and salt tolerance.We also examine recent advances in understanding natural variation in the salt tolerance of crops and discuss possible strategies and challenges for designing salt stress-resilient crops.We focus on the model plant Arabidopsis(Arabidopsis thaliana)and the four most-studied crops:rice(Oryza sativa),wheat(Triticum aestivum),maize(Zea mays),and soybean(Glycine max).
基金the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China(2018ZX0800917B)grant from Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department(202005AF150026).
文摘Plants adaptively change their cell wall composition and structure during their growth,development,and interactions with environmental stresses.Dirigent proteins(DIRs)contribute to environmental adaptations by dynamically reorganizing the cell wall and/or by generating defense compounds.A maize DIR,ZmDRR206,was previously reported to play a dominant role in regulation of storage nutrient accumulation in endosperm during maize kernel development.Here we show that ZmDRR206 mediates maize seedling growth and disease resistance by coordinately regulating biosynthesis of cell wall components for cell-wall integrity(CWI)maintenance.Expression of ZmDRR206 was induced in maize seedlings upon pathogen infection.ZmDRR206 overexpression in maize resulted in reduced seedling growth and photosynthetic activity but increased disease resistance and drought tolerance,revealing a tradeoff between growth and defense.Consistently,ZmDRR206 overexpression reduced the contents of primary metabolites and down-regulated genes involved in photosynthesis,while increasing the contents of major cell wall components,defense phytohormones,and defense metabolites,and up-regulated genes involved in defense and cell-wall biosynthesis in seedlings.ZmDRR206-overexpressing seedlings were resistant to cell-wall stress imposed by isoxaben,and ZmDRR206 physically interacted with ZmCesA10,which is a cellulose synthase unit.Our findings suggest a mechanism by which ZmDRR206 coordinately regulates biosynthesis of cell-wall components for CWI maintenance during maize seedling growth,and might be exploited for breeding strong disease resistance in maize.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2016YFD0100802 and 2016YFD0101803)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31421005 and 91935303)。
文摘Ear-related traits are often selection targets for maize improvement. This study used an immortalized F(IF) population to elucidate the genetic basis of ear-related traits. Twelve ear-related traits(namely, row number(RN), kernel number per row(KNPR), ear length(EL), ear diameter(ED), ten-kernel thickness(TKT), ear weight(EW), cob diameter(CD),kernel length(KL), kernel width(KW), grain weight per ear(GW), 100-kernel weight(HKW), and grain yield per plot(GY)),were collected from the IFpopulation. The ear-related traits were comprised of 265 crosses derived from 516 individuals of the recombinant inbred lines(RILs) under two separated environments in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Quantitative trait loci(QTLs) analyses identified 165 ear traits related QTLs, which explained phenotypic variation ranging from 0.1 to 12.66%. Among the 165 QTLs, 19 underlying nine ear-related traits(CD, ED, GY, RN, TKT, HKW, KL, GW, and KNPR)were identified across multiple environments and recognized as reliable QTLs. Furthermore, 44.85% of the total QTLs showed an overdominance effect, and 12.72% showed a dominance effect. Additionally, we found 35 genomic regions exhibiting pleiotropic effects across the whole maize genome, and 17 heterotic loci(HLs) for RN, EL, ED and EW were identified. The results provide insights into genetic components of ear-related traits and enhance the understanding of the genetic basis of heterosis in maize.
基金The study work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022ZD0401801)the Chinese Universities Scientific Funds(2023TC107).
文摘Shoot architecture in maize is critical since it determines resource use,impacts wind and rain damage tolerance,and affects yield stability.Quantifying the diversity among inbred lines in heterosis breeding is essential,especially when describing germplasm resources.However,traditional geometric description methods oversimplify shoot architecture and ignore the plant’s overall architecture,making it difficult to reflect and illustrate diversity.This study presents a new method to describe maize shoot architecture and quantifies its diversity by combining computer vision algorithms and persistent homology.Our results reveal that persistent homology can capture key characteristics of shoot architecture in maize and other details often overlooked by traditional geometric analysis.Based on this method,the morphological diversity of shoot architecture can be mined(quantified),and the main shoot architecture types can be obtained.Consequently,this method can easily describe the diversity of shoot architecture in many maize materials.
基金supported by the Biological Breeding-Major Projects(2023ZD04076)the Pinduoduo-China Agricultural University Research Fund(PC2023B01012)+1 种基金the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University,the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32201718)the Science and Technology Demonstration Project of Shandong Province(2024SFGC0402).
文摘Dear Editor,Multi-omics association analysis is a key method in crop germplasm research,helping to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of agronomic traits(Liu et al.,2020;Liang et al.,2021).However,most existing multi-omics association studies focus on omics data under a single condition,posing challenges in identifying stress-related agronomically important genes.This difficultymainly arises fromthe increased complexity ofmulti-omics analyseswhen comparing control and stress conditions.
基金supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFD1202905)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32272629).
文摘Dear Editor,Genome editing tools are leading a revolution in plant breeding.In particular,prime editors(PEs)can install all types of base changes and small insertions/deletions at precise positions in plant genomes(Anzalone et al.,2019).PEs are by far the most powerful approach for improving traits conferred by gain-of-function point mutations.Early versions of PEs suffered from low editing efficiency,but the latest PEs can perform edits at a much higher efficiency thanks to the extensive efforts of re-searchers from around the world.Most modifications to improve PE efficiency have focused on the optimization of PE protein components and structure.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFF1000401)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32025027),Pinduoduo-China Agricultural University Research Fund(PC2023A01003)+2 种基金New Cornerstone Science Foundation through the XPLORER PRIZE,Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory(B21HJ0111)Sanya Yazhouwan Science and Technology City Administration(SYND-2022-26)the Chinese Universities Scientific Fund(2020TC149 and 2022TC138).
文摘Maize(Zea mays ssp.mays)was domesticated approximately 9,000 years ago from Zea mays ssp.parviglumis,a lowland teosinte native to southwestern Mexico(Matsuoka et al.,2002).From the tropical origin,maize has spread into a wide range of temperate regions with high latitudes and altitudes.Flowering time is a critical trait determining plant local adaptation.Several flowering time genes contributing to maize latitudinal adaptation have been identified(Yang et al.,2013;Guo et al.,2018;Huang et al.,2018;Liang et al.,2019;Wu et al.,2023).In contrast,the genetic mechanisms enabling maize adaptation to high-altitude environments remain poorly understood.
基金supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFF1001600)the National Science Foundation of China(32030008 and 31921001)the Beijing Outstanding University Discipline.
文摘The calcineurin B-like protein(CBL)-CBL-interacting protein kinase(CIPK)Ca^(2+) sensors play crucial roles in the plant's response to drought stress.However,there have been few reports on the synergistic regulation of drought stress by CBL-CIPK and abscisic acid(ABA)core signaling components.In this study,we discovered that ZmCIPK33 positively regulates drought resistance in maize.ZmCIPK33 physically interacts with and is enhanced by phosphorylation from ZmSnRK2.10.Drought stress can activate ZmCIPK33,which is partially dependent on ZmSnRK2.10.ZmCIPK33 in combination with ZmSnRK2.10 can activate the slow anion channel ZmSLAC1 in Xenopus laevis oocytes independently of CBLs,whereas ZmCIPK33 or ZmSnRK2.10 alone is unable to do so.Furthermore,ZmCIPK33 phosphorylates ZmPP2C11 at Ser60,which leads to a reduction in the interaction between ZmPP2C11 and ZmEAR1(the ortholog of Arabidopsis Enhancer of ABA co-Receptor 1)and weakens the phosphatase activity of ZmPP2C11,consequently,enhancing the activity of ZmSnRK2.10 in an in vitro assay and in the in-gel assay of the zmcipk33 mutant.Our findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the reciprocal enhancement of Ca^(2+) and ABA signaling under drought stress in maize.
