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Liu H, Wu Z, Bao M, Gao F, Yang W, Abou-Elwafa SF, Liu Z, Ren Z, Zhu Y, Ku L, Su H, Chong L, Chen Y. ZmC2H2-149 negatively regulates drought tolerance by repressing ZmHSD1 in maize. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 47:885-899. [PMID: 38164019 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Drought is a major abiotic stress that limits maize production worldwide. Therefore, it is of great importance to improve drought tolerance in crop plants for sustainable agriculture. In this study, we examined the roles of Cys2 /His2 zinc-finger-proteins (C2H2-ZFPs) in maize's drought tolerance as C2H2-ZFPs have been implicated for plant stress tolerance. By subjecting 150 Ac/Ds mutant lines to drought stress, we successfully identified a Ds-insertion mutant, zmc2h2-149, which shows increased tolerance to drought stress. Overexpression of ZmC2H2-149 in maize led to a decrease in both drought tolerance and crop yield. DAP-Seq, RNA-Seq, Y1H and LUC assays additionally showed that ZmC2H2-149 directly suppresses the expression of a positive drought tolerance regulator, ZmHSD1 (hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1). Consistently, the zmhsd1 mutants exhibited decreased drought tolerance and grain yield under water deficit conditions compared to their respective wild-type plants. Our findings thus demonstrated that ZmC2H2-149 can regulate ZmHSD1 for drought stress tolerance in maize, offering valuable theoretical and genetic resources for maize breeding programmes that aim for improving drought tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huafeng Liu
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Zhendong Wu
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Miaomiao Bao
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Fengran Gao
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wenjing Yang
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | | | - Zhixue Liu
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Zhenzhen Ren
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yingfang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Lixia Ku
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Huihui Su
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Leelyn Chong
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yanhui Chen
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Li M, Dong X, Long G, Zhang Z, Han C, Wang Y. Genome-Wide Analysis of Q-Type C2H2 ZFP Genes in Response to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Sugar Beet. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1309. [PMID: 37887019 PMCID: PMC10604892 DOI: 10.3390/biology12101309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
A plant's Q-type C2H2-type ZFP plays key roles in plant growth and development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is an important crop for sugar production. Salt stress and viral infection significantly reduce the root yield and sugar content of sugar beet. However, there is a lack of comprehensive genome-wide analyses of Q-type C2H2 ZFPs and their expression patterns in sugar beet under stress. In this study, 35 sugar beet Q-type C2H2 ZFPs (BvZFPs) containing at least one conserved "QALGGH" motif were identified via bioinformatics techniques using TBtools software. According to their evolutionary relationship, the BvZFPs were classified into five subclasses. Within each subclass, the physicochemical properties and motif compositions showed strong similarities. A Ka/Ks analysis indicated that the BvZFPs were conserved during evolution. Promoter cis-element analysis revealed that most BvZFPs are associated with elements related to phytohormone, biotic or abiotic stress, and plant development. The expression data showed that the BvZFPs in sugar beet are predominantly expressed in the root. In addition, BvZFPs are involved in the response to abiotic and biotic stresses, including salt stress and viral infection. Overall, these results will extend our understanding of the Q-type C2H2 gene family and provide valuable information for the biological breeding of sugar beet against abiotic and biotic stresses in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ying Wang
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (M.L.); (X.D.); (G.L.); (Z.Z.); (C.H.)
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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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