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Bongianino NF, Steffolani ME, Morales CD, Biasutti CA, León AE. Semi-Arid Environmental Conditions and Agronomic Traits Impact on the Grain Quality of Diverse Maize Genotypes. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:2482. [PMID: 39273966 PMCID: PMC11397475 DOI: 10.3390/plants13172482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
We assessed the impact of environmental conditions and agronomic traits on maize grain quality parameters. The study was conducted using genotypes with distinct genetic constitutions developed specifically for late sowing in semi-arid environments. We evaluated the agronomic, physical, and chemical characteristics of eight maize open-pollinated varieties, six inbred lines, and three commercial hybrids. The yield of the open-pollinated varieties showed a positive correlation with protein content (r = 0.33), while it exhibited a negative correlation with the carbohydrate percentage (r = -0.36 and -0.42) in conjunction with the inbred lines. The flotation index of the hybrids was influenced primarily by the environmental effect (50.15%), whereas in the inbred lines it was nearly evenly divided between the genotype effect (45.51%) and the environmental effect (43.15%). In the open-pollinated varieties, the genotype effect accounted for 35.09% and the environmental effect for 42.35%. The characteristics of plant structure were associated with grain quality attributes relevant for milling, including hardness and test weight. Inbred lines exhibited significant genotype contributions to grain hardness, protein, and carbohydrate content, distinguishing them from the other two germplasm types. These associations are crucial for specific genotypes and for advancing research and development of cultivars for the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Francisco Bongianino
- Córdoba Food Science and Technology Institute (ICYTAC), National Scientific and Technical, Research Council (CONICET), National University of Córdoba (UNC), Córdoba 5000, Argentina
- Plant Breeding, College of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Córdoba (UNC), Córdoba 5000, Argentina
| | - María Eugenia Steffolani
- Córdoba Food Science and Technology Institute (ICYTAC), National Scientific and Technical, Research Council (CONICET), National University of Córdoba (UNC), Córdoba 5000, Argentina
- Biological Chemistry, College of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Córdoba (UNC), Córdoba 5000, Argentina
| | - Claudio David Morales
- Córdoba Food Science and Technology Institute (ICYTAC), National Scientific and Technical, Research Council (CONICET), National University of Córdoba (UNC), Córdoba 5000, Argentina
| | - Carlos Alberto Biasutti
- Plant Breeding, College of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Córdoba (UNC), Córdoba 5000, Argentina
| | - Alberto Edel León
- Córdoba Food Science and Technology Institute (ICYTAC), National Scientific and Technical, Research Council (CONICET), National University of Córdoba (UNC), Córdoba 5000, Argentina
- Biological Chemistry, College of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Córdoba (UNC), Córdoba 5000, Argentina
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2
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Dai W, Li Q, Liu T, Long P, He Y, Sang M, Zou C, Chen Z, Yuan G, Ma L, Pan G, Shen Y. Combining genome-wide association study and linkage mapping in the genetic dissection of amylose content in maize (Zea mays L.). TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2024; 137:159. [PMID: 38872054 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-024-04666-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Integrated linkage and association analysis revealed genetic basis across multiple environments. The genes Zm00001d003102 and Zm00001d015905 were further verified to influence amylose content using gene-based association study. Maize kernel amylose is an important source of human food and industrial raw material. However, the genetic basis underlying maize amylose content is still obscure. Herein, we used an intermated B73 × Mo17 (IBM) Syn10 doubled haploid population composed of 222 lines and a germplasm set including 305 inbred lines to uncover the genetic control for amylose content under four environments. Linkage mapping detected 16 unique QTL, among which four were individually repeatedly identified across multiple environments. Genome-wide association study revealed 17 significant (P = 2.24E-06) single-nucleotide polymorphisms, of which two (SYN19568 and PZE-105090500) were located in the intervals of the mapped QTL (qAC2 and qAC5-3), respectively. According to the two population co-localized loci, 20 genes were confirmed as the candidate genes for amylose content. Gene-based association analysis indicated that the variants in Zm00001d003102 (Beta-16-galactosyltransferase GALT29A) and Zm00001d015905 (Sugar transporter 4a) affected amylose content across multi-environment. Tissue expression analysis showed that the two genes were specifically highly expressed in the ear and stem, respectively, suggesting that they might participate in sugar transport from source to sink organs. Our study provides valuable genetic information for breeding maize varieties with high amylose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Qinglin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Tao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Ping Long
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Yao He
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Mengxiang Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Chaoying Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Guangsheng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Langlang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Guangtang Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Yaou Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
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3
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Ndlovu N, Kachapur RM, Beyene Y, Das B, Ogugo V, Makumbi D, Spillane C, McKeown PC, Prasanna BM, Gowda M. Linkage mapping and genomic prediction of grain quality traits in tropical maize ( Zea mays L.). Front Genet 2024; 15:1353289. [PMID: 38456017 PMCID: PMC10918846 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1353289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The suboptimal productivity of maize systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a pressing issue, with far-reaching implications for food security, nutrition, and livelihood sustainability within the affected smallholder farming communities. Dissecting the genetic basis of grain protein, starch and oil content can increase our understanding of the governing genetic systems, improve the efficacy of future breeding schemes and optimize the end-use quality of tropical maize. Here, four bi-parental maize populations were evaluated in field trials in Kenya and genotyped with mid-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Genotypic (G), environmental (E) and G×E variations were found to be significant for all grain quality traits. Broad sense heritabilities exhibited substantial variation (0.18-0.68). Linkage mapping identified multiple quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for the studied grain quality traits: 13, 7, 33, 8 and 2 QTLs for oil content, protein content, starch content, grain texture and kernel weight, respectively. The co-localization of QTLs identified in our research suggests the presence of shared genetic factors or pleiotropic effects, implying that specific genomic regions influence the expression of multiple grain quality traits simultaneously. Genomic prediction accuracies were moderate to high for the studied traits. Our findings highlight the polygenic nature of grain quality traits and demonstrate the potential of genomic selection to enhance genetic gains in maize breeding. Furthermore, the identified genomic regions and single nucleotide polymorphism markers can serve as the groundwork for investigating candidate genes that regulate grain quality traits in tropical maize. This, in turn, can facilitate the implementation of marker-assisted selection (MAS) in breeding programs focused on improving grain nutrient levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noel Ndlovu
- Agriculture and Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rajashekar M. Kachapur
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya
- University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India
| | - Yoseph Beyene
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Biswanath Das
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Veronica Ogugo
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Dan Makumbi
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Charles Spillane
- Agriculture and Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Peter C. McKeown
- Agriculture and Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Manje Gowda
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya
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4
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Katral A, Hossain F, Zunjare RU, Chhabra R, Vinutha T, Duo H, Kumar B, Karjagi CG, Jacob SR, Pandey S, Neeraja CN, Vasudev S, Muthusamy V. Multilocus functional characterization of indigenous and exotic inbreds for dgat1-2, fatb, ge2 and wri1a genes affecting kernel oil and fatty acid profile in maize. Gene 2024; 895:148001. [PMID: 37977314 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.148001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Demand for maize oil is progressively increasing due to its diverse industrial applications, aside from its primary role in human nutrition and animal feed. Oil content and composition are two crucial determinants of maize oil in the international market. As kernel oil in maize is a complex quantitative trait, improving this trait presents a challenge for plant breeders and biotechnologists. Here, we characterized a set of 292 diverse maize inbreds of both indigenous and exotic origin by exploiting functional polymorphism of the dgat1-2, fatb, ge2, and wri1a genes governing kernel oil in maize. Genotyping using gene-based functional markers revealed a lower frequencies of dgat1-2 (0.15) and fatb (0.12) mutant alleles and a higher frequencies of wild-type alleles (Dgat1-2: 0.85; fatB: 0.88). The favorable wri1a allele was conserved across genotypes, while its wild-type allele (WRI1a) was not detected. In contrast, none of the genotypes possessed the ge2 favorable allele. The frequency of favorable alleles of both dgat1-2 and fatb decreased to 0.03 when considered together. Furthermore, pairwise protein-protein interactions among target gene products were conducted to understand the effect of one protein on another and their responses to kernel oil through functional enrichments. Thus, the identified maize genotypes with dgat1-2, fatb, and wri1a favourable alleles, along with insights gained through the protein-protein association network, serve as prominent and unique genetic resources for high-oil maize breeding programs. This is the first comprehensive report on the functional characterization of diverse genotypes at the molecular and protein levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Firoz Hossain
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | | | - Rashmi Chhabra
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - T Vinutha
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Hriipulou Duo
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Bhupender Kumar
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, New Delhi 110012, India
| | | | - Sherry R Jacob
- ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resource, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Sushil Pandey
- ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resource, New Delhi 110012, India
| | | | - Sujata Vasudev
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Vignesh Muthusamy
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
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5
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Yang N, Wang Y, Liu X, Jin M, Vallebueno-Estrada M, Calfee E, Chen L, Dilkes BP, Gui S, Fan X, Harper TK, Kennett DJ, Li W, Lu Y, Ding J, Chen Z, Luo J, Mambakkam S, Menon M, Snodgrass S, Veller C, Wu S, Wu S, Zhuo L, Xiao Y, Yang X, Stitzer MC, Runcie D, Yan J, Ross-Ibarra J. Two teosintes made modern maize. Science 2023; 382:eadg8940. [PMID: 38033071 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg8940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The origins of maize were the topic of vigorous debate for nearly a century, but neither the current genetic model nor earlier archaeological models account for the totality of available data, and recent work has highlighted the potential contribution of a wild relative, Zea mays ssp. mexicana. Our population genetic analysis reveals that the origin of modern maize can be traced to an admixture between ancient maize and Zea mays ssp. mexicana in the highlands of Mexico some 4000 years after domestication began. We show that variation in admixture is a key component of maize diversity, both at individual loci and for additive genetic variation underlying agronomic traits. Our results clarify the origin of modern maize and raise new questions about the anthropogenic mechanisms underlying dispersal throughout the Americas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Yuebin Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiangguo Liu
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Minliang Jin
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Miguel Vallebueno-Estrada
- Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, CINVESTAV Irapuato, 36821 Guanajuato, México
| | - Erin Calfee
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Adaptive Biotechnologies, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Lu Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Brian P Dilkes
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Songtao Gui
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xingming Fan
- Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650200, China
| | - Thomas K Harper
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Douglas J Kennett
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Wenqiang Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yanli Lu
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Junqiang Ding
- College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Ziqi Chen
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Jingyun Luo
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Sowmya Mambakkam
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Mitra Menon
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Samantha Snodgrass
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Carl Veller
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Shenshen Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Siying Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Lin Zhuo
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yingjie Xiao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiaohong Yang
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Michelle C Stitzer
- Institute for Genomic Diversity and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Daniel Runcie
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
- Yazhouwan National Laboratory, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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6
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Li J, Liu J, Zhu K, Liu S. Transcriptome Analysis of Maize Ear Leaves Treated with Long-Term Straw Return plus Nitrogen Fertilizer under the Wheat-Maize Rotation System. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3868. [PMID: 38005765 PMCID: PMC10674774 DOI: 10.3390/plants12223868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Straw return (SR) plus nitrogen (N) fertilizer has become a practical field management mode to improve soil fertility and crop yield in North China. This study aims to explore the relationship among organic waste, mineral nutrient utilization, and crop yield under SRN mode. The fertilizer treatments included unfertilized (CK), SR (straws from wheat and corn), N fertilizer (N), and SR plus N fertilizer (SRN). SRN treatment not only significantly increased the grain yield, net photosynthetic rate, and transpiration rate but also enhanced the contents of chlorophyll, soluble sugar, and soluble protein and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes but reduced intercellular CO2 concentration and malondialdehyde (MDA) content when compared to other treatments. There were 2572, 1258, and 3395 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified from the paired comparisons of SRvsCK, NvsCK, and SRNvsCK, respectively. The transcript levels of many promising genes involved in the transport and assimilation of potassium, phosphate, and nitrogen, as well as the metabolisms of sugar, lipid, and protein, were down-regulated by straw returning under N treatment. SRN treatment maintained the maximum maize grain yield by regulating a series of genes' expressions to reduce nutrient shortage stress and to enhance the photosynthesis of ear leaves at the maize grain filling stage. This study would deepen the understanding of complex molecular mechanisms among organic waste, mineral nutrient utilization, crop yield, and quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- College of Agronomy, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China;
| | - Jintao Liu
- School of Engineering, Universidad de Almería, ES04120 Almería, Spain;
| | - Kaili Zhu
- College of Agronomy, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China;
| | - Shutang Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
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7
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Sethi M, Saini DK, Devi V, Kaur C, Singh MP, Singh J, Pruthi G, Kaur A, Singh A, Chaudhary DP. Unravelling the genetic framework associated with grain quality and yield-related traits in maize ( Zea mays L.). Front Genet 2023; 14:1248697. [PMID: 37609038 PMCID: PMC10440565 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1248697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Maize serves as a crucial nutrient reservoir for a significant portion of the global population. However, to effectively address the growing world population's hidden hunger, it is essential to focus on two key aspects: biofortification of maize and improving its yield potential through advanced breeding techniques. Moreover, the coordination of multiple targets within a single breeding program poses a complex challenge. This study compiled mapping studies conducted over the past decade, identifying quantitative trait loci associated with grain quality and yield related traits in maize. Meta-QTL analysis of 2,974 QTLs for 169 component traits (associated with quality and yield related traits) revealed 68 MQTLs across different genetic backgrounds and environments. Most of these MQTLs were further validated using the data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Further, ten MQTLs, referred to as breeding-friendly MQTLs (BF-MQTLs), with a significant phenotypic variation explained over 10% and confidence interval less than 2 Mb, were shortlisted. BF-MQTLs were further used to identify potential candidate genes, including 59 genes encoding important proteins/products involved in essential metabolic pathways. Five BF-MQTLs associated with both quality and yield traits were also recommended to be utilized in future breeding programs. Synteny analysis with wheat and rice genomes revealed conserved regions across the genomes, indicating these hotspot regions as validated targets for developing biofortified, high-yielding maize varieties in future breeding programs. After validation, the identified candidate genes can also be utilized to effectively model the plant architecture and enhance desirable quality traits through various approaches such as marker-assisted breeding, genetic engineering, and genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehak Sethi
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar Saini
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Veena Devi
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Charanjeet Kaur
- Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Mohini Prabha Singh
- Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Jasneet Singh
- Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Macdonald Campus, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gomsie Pruthi
- Department of Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Amanpreet Kaur
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Alla Singh
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Dharam Paul Chaudhary
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
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8
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Luo M, Lu B, Shi Y, Zhao Y, Liu J, Zhang C, Wang Y, Liu H, Shi Y, Fan Y, Xu L, Wang R, Zhao J. Genetic basis of the oil biosynthesis in ultra-high-oil maize grains with an oil content exceeding 20. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1168216. [PMID: 37251765 PMCID: PMC10213527 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1168216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Vegetable oil is an important part of the human diet and has multiple industrial uses. The rapid increase in vegetable oil consumption has necessitated the development of viable methods for optimizing the oil content of plants. The key genes regulating the biosynthesis of maize grain oil remain mostly uncharacterized. In this study, by analyzing oil contents and performing bulked segregant RNA sequencing and mapping analyses, we determined that su1 and sh2-R mediate the shrinkage of ultra-high-oil maize grains and contribute to the increase in the grain oil content. Functional kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers developed for su1 and sh2-R detected su1su1Sh2Sh2, Su1Su1sh2sh2, and su1su1sh2sh2 mutants among 183 sweet maize inbred lines. An RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis indicated that genes differentially expressed between two conventional sweet maize lines and two ultra-high-oil maize lines were significantly associated with linoleic acid metabolism, cyanoamino acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, and nitrogen metabolism. A bulk segregant analysis and sequencing (BSA-seq) analysis identified another 88 genomic intervals related to grain oil content, 16 of which overlapped previously reported maize grain oil-related QTLs. The combined analysis of BSA-seq and RNA-seq data enabled the identification of candidate genes. The KASP markers for GRMZM2G176998 (putative WD40-like beta propeller repeat family protein), GRMZM2G021339 (homeobox-transcription factor 115), and GRMZM2G167438 (3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase) were significantly related to maize grain oil content. Another candidate gene, GRMZM2G099802 (GDSL-like lipase/acylhydrolase), catalyzes the final step of the triacylglycerol synthesis pathway and was expressed at significantly higher levels in the two ultra-high-oil maize lines than in the two conventional sweet maize lines. These novel findings will help clarify the genetic basis of the increased oil production in ultra-high-oil maize lines with grain oil contents exceeding 20%. The KASP markers developed in this study may be useful for breeding new high-oil sweet maize varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijie Luo
- *Correspondence: Meijie Luo, ; Jiuran Zhao, ; Ronghuan Wang,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ronghuan Wang
- *Correspondence: Meijie Luo, ; Jiuran Zhao, ; Ronghuan Wang,
| | - Jiuran Zhao
- *Correspondence: Meijie Luo, ; Jiuran Zhao, ; Ronghuan Wang,
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9
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Katral A, Hossain F, Gopinath I, Chand G, Mehta BK, Kamboj MC, Zunjare RU, Yadava DK, Muthusamy V. Genetic dissection of embryo size and weight related traits for enhancement of kernel oil in maize. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 197:107668. [PMID: 37003215 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Embryo is a key determinant of kernel-oil in maize. Higher calorific value of maize kernel is attributed to increment in kernel-oil and it stores in specialised structure called embryo. Understanding the genetic behaviour of embryo size and weight related-traits is inevitable task for genetic improvement of kernel-oil. Here, the six-basic generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1P1 and BC1P2) of three crosses (CRPBIO-962 × EC932601, CRPBIO-973 × CRPBIO-966 and CRPBIO-966 × CRPBIO-979) between contrasting embryo-sized maize inbreds were field evaluated at three locations to decipher the genetics of twenty embryo, kernel and embryo-to-kernel related-traits through generation-mean-analysis (GMA). Combined ANOVA revealed the significance of all the traits among generations; however, location and generation × location were found to be non-significant (P > 0.05) for most of the traits. Significance (P < 0.05) of scaling and joint-scaling tests revealed the presence of non-allelic interactions. Elucidation of six-parameters disclosed the predominance of dominance main-effect (h) and dominance × dominance interaction-effect (l) for most of traits. The signs of (h) and (l) indicated the prevalence of duplicate-epistasis type across crosses and locations. Thus, the population improvement approaches along with heterosis breeding method could be effective for improvement of these traits. Quantitative inheritance pattern was observed for all the traits with high broad-sense heritability and better-stability across locations. The study also predicted one to three major-gene blocks/QTLs for embryo-traits and up to 11 major-gene blocks/QTLs for embryo-to-kernel traits. These findings could provide deep insights to strategize extensive breeding methods to improve embryo traits for enhancing kernel-oil in sustainable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Firoz Hossain
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Gulab Chand
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Brijesh K Mehta
- ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, India
| | - Mehar C Kamboj
- Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India
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Zhang X, Wang M, Guan H, Wen H, Zhang C, Dai C, Wang J, Pan B, Li J, Liao H. Genetic dissection of QTLs for oil content in four maize DH populations. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1174985. [PMID: 37123853 PMCID: PMC10130369 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1174985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Oil is one of the main components in maize kernels. Increasing the total oil content (TOC) is favorable to optimize feeding requirement by improving maize quality. To better understand the genetic basis of TOC, quantitative trait loci (QTL) in four double haploid (DH) populations were explored. TOC exhibited continuously and approximately normal distribution in the four populations. The moderate to high broad-sense heritability (67.00-86.60%) indicated that the majority of TOC variations are controlled by genetic factors. A total of 16 QTLs were identified across all chromosomes in a range of 3.49-30.84% in term of phenotypic variation explained. Among them, six QTLs were identified as the major QTLs that explained phenotypic variation larger than 10%. Especially, qOC-1-3 and qOC-2-3 on chromosome 9 were recognized as the largest effect QTLs with 30.84% and 21.74% of phenotypic variance, respectively. Seventeen well-known genes involved in fatty acid metabolic pathway located within QTL intervals. These QTLs will enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of TOC in maize and offer prospective routes to clone candidate genes regulating TOC for breeding program to cultivate maize varieties with the better grain quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Zhang
- Quality and Safety Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Min Wang
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Haitao Guan
- Quality and Safety Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hongtao Wen
- Quality and Safety Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | | | - Changjun Dai
- Quality and Safety Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Quality and Safety Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Bo Pan
- Quality and Safety Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jialei Li
- Food Processing Institute, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hui Liao
- Quality and Safety Institute of Agricultural Products, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- *Correspondence: Hui Liao,
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Wu H, Becraft PW, Dannenhoffer JM. Maize Endosperm Development: Tissues, Cells, Molecular Regulation and Grain Quality Improvement. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:852082. [PMID: 35330868 PMCID: PMC8940253 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.852082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Maize endosperm plays important roles in human diet, animal feed and industrial applications. Knowing the mechanisms that regulate maize endosperm development could facilitate the improvement of grain quality. This review provides a detailed account of maize endosperm development at the cellular and histological levels. It features the stages of early development as well as developmental patterns of the various individual tissues and cell types. It then covers molecular genetics, gene expression networks, and current understanding of key regulators as they affect the development of each tissue. The article then briefly considers key changes that have occurred in endosperm development during maize domestication. Finally, it considers prospects for how knowledge of the regulation of endosperm development could be utilized to enhance maize grain quality to improve agronomic performance, nutrition and economic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wu
- Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Philip W. Becraft
- Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- *Correspondence: Philip W. Becraft,
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