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Xie S, Tian R, Liu H, Li Y, Hu Y, Huang Y, Zhang J, Liu Y. DEK219 and HSF17 Collaboratively Regulate the Kernel Length in Maize. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1592. [PMID: 38931024 PMCID: PMC11207566 DOI: 10.3390/plants13121592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The kernel length is a crucial determinant of maize (Zea mays L.) yield; however, only a limited number of genes regulating kernel length have been validated, thus leaving our understanding of the mechanisms governing kernel length incomplete. We previously identified a maize kernel mutant, defective kernel219 (dek219), which encodes the DICER-LIKE1 protein that is essential for miRNA biogenesis. The present study revealed that dek219 consistently exhibits a stable phenotype characterized by a reduced kernel length. Further analysis indicated that dek219 may reduce the kernel length by inhibiting the expression of genes involved in regulating kernel length. By employing miRNA-target gene prediction, expression analysis, and correlation analysis, we successfully identified nine transcription factors that potentially participate in the regulation of kernel length under the control of DEK219. Among them, the upregulation fold change of HEAT SHOCK TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR17 (HSF17) expression was the highest, and the difference was most significant. The results of transient expression analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) indicated that HSF17 can inhibit the expression of DEFECTIVE ENDOSPERM18 (DE18), a gene involved in regulating kernel length. Furthermore, the hsf17 mutant exhibited a significant increase in kernel length, suggesting that HSF17 functions as a negative regulator of kernel length. The results of this study provide crucial evidence for further elucidating the molecular regulatory mechanism underlying maize kernel length and also offer valuable genetic resources for breeding high-yielding maize varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (S.X.); (R.T.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Ran Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (S.X.); (R.T.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Hanmei Liu
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, China;
| | - Yangping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (S.X.); (R.T.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yufeng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (S.X.); (R.T.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yubi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (S.X.); (R.T.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Junjie Zhang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, China;
| | - Yinghong Liu
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
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Zhang X, Sun J, Zhang Y, Li J, Liu M, Li L, Li S, Wang T, Shaw RK, Jiang F, Fan X. Hotspot Regions of Quantitative Trait Loci and Candidate Genes for Ear-Related Traits in Maize: A Literature Review. Genes (Basel) 2023; 15:15. [PMID: 38275597 PMCID: PMC10815758 DOI: 10.3390/genes15010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, hotspot regions, QTL clusters, and candidate genes for eight ear-related traits of maize (ear length, ear diameter, kernel row number, kernel number per row, kernel length, kernel width, kernel thickness, and 100-kernel weight) were summarized and analyzed over the past three decades. This review aims to (1) comprehensively summarize and analyze previous studies on QTLs associated with these eight ear-related traits and identify hotspot bin regions located on maize chromosomes and key candidate genes associated with the ear-related traits and (2) compile major and stable QTLs and QTL clusters from various mapping populations and mapping methods and techniques providing valuable insights for fine mapping, gene cloning, and breeding for high-yield and high-quality maize. Previous research has demonstrated that QTLs for ear-related traits are distributed across all ten chromosomes in maize, and the phenotypic variation explained by a single QTL ranged from 0.40% to 36.76%. In total, 23 QTL hotspot bins for ear-related traits were identified across all ten chromosomes. The most prominent hotspot region is bin 4.08 on chromosome 4 with 15 QTLs related to eight ear-related traits. Additionally, this study identified 48 candidate genes associated with ear-related traits. Out of these, five have been cloned and validated, while twenty-eight candidate genes located in the QTL hotspots were defined by this study. This review offers a deeper understanding of the advancements in QTL mapping and the identification of key candidates associated with eight ear-related traits. These insights will undoubtedly assist maize breeders in formulating strategies to develop higher-yield maize varieties, contributing to global food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingjie Zhang
- School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; (X.Z.); (J.L.); (M.L.); (L.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Jiachen Sun
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (J.S.); (T.W.)
| | - Yudong Zhang
- Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China; (Y.Z.); (R.K.S.); (F.J.)
| | - Jinfeng Li
- School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; (X.Z.); (J.L.); (M.L.); (L.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Meichen Liu
- School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; (X.Z.); (J.L.); (M.L.); (L.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Linzhuo Li
- School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; (X.Z.); (J.L.); (M.L.); (L.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Shaoxiong Li
- School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; (X.Z.); (J.L.); (M.L.); (L.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Tingzhao Wang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (J.S.); (T.W.)
| | - Ranjan Kumar Shaw
- Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China; (Y.Z.); (R.K.S.); (F.J.)
| | - Fuyan Jiang
- Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China; (Y.Z.); (R.K.S.); (F.J.)
| | - Xingming Fan
- Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China; (Y.Z.); (R.K.S.); (F.J.)
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Liu R, Cui Y, Kong L, Zheng F, Zhao W, Meng Q, Yuan J, Zhang M, Chen Y. Evaluating the Genetic Background Effect on Dissecting the Genetic Basis of Kernel Traits in Reciprocal Maize Introgression Lines. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14051044. [PMID: 37239404 DOI: 10.3390/genes14051044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Maize yield is mostly determined by its grain size. Although numerous quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been identified for kernel-related traits, the application of these QTL in breeding programs has been strongly hindered because the populations used for QTL mapping are often different from breeding populations. However, the effect of genetic background on the efficiency of QTL and the accuracy of trait genomic prediction has not been fully studied. Here, we used a set of reciprocal introgression lines (ILs) derived from 417F × 517F to evaluate how genetic background affects the detection of QTLassociated with kernel shape traits. A total of 51 QTL for kernel size were identified by chromosome segment lines (CSL) and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) methods. These were subsequently clustered into 13 common QTL based on their physical position, including 7 genetic-background-independent and 6 genetic-background-dependent QTL, respectively. Additionally, different digenic epistatic marker pairs were identified in the 417F and 517F ILs. Therefore, our results demonstrated that genetic background strongly affected not only the kernel size QTL mapping via CSL and GWAS but also the genomic prediction accuracy and epistatic detection, thereby enhancing our understanding of how genetic background affects the genetic dissection of grain size-related traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixiang Liu
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Agrobiology, Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Yakun Cui
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Agrobiology, Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Lingjie Kong
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Agrobiology, Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Fei Zheng
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Agrobiology, Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Wenming Zhao
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Agrobiology, Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Qingchang Meng
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Agrobiology, Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Jianhua Yuan
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Agrobiology, Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Meijing Zhang
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Agrobiology, Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Yanping Chen
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Agrobiology, Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
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Gong D, Wang Y, Zhang H, Liang K, Sun Q, Qiu F. Overexpression of ZmKL9 increases maize hybrid hundred kernel weight. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:451-453. [PMID: 36331355 PMCID: PMC9946134 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dianming Gong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryWuhanChina
| | - Yuanru Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryWuhanChina
| | - Hetong Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryWuhanChina
| | - Kun Liang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryWuhanChina
| | - Qin Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryWuhanChina
| | - Fazhan Qiu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryWuhanChina
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Genetic Architecture of Grain Yield-Related Traits in Sorghum and Maize. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052405. [PMID: 35269548 PMCID: PMC8909957 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Grain size, grain number per panicle, and grain weight are crucial determinants of yield-related traits in cereals. Understanding the genetic basis of grain yield-related traits has been the main research object and nodal in crop science. Sorghum and maize, as very close C4 crops with high photosynthetic rates, stress tolerance and large biomass characteristics, are extensively used to produce food, feed, and biofuels worldwide. In this review, we comprehensively summarize a large number of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with grain yield in sorghum and maize. We placed great emphasis on discussing 22 fine-mapped QTLs and 30 functionally characterized genes, which greatly hinders our deep understanding at the molecular mechanism level. This review provides a general overview of the comprehensive findings on grain yield QTLs and discusses the emerging trend in molecular marker-assisted breeding with these QTLs.
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