Dataset Information

Stalk architecture, cell wall composition, and QTL underlying high stalk flexibility for improved lodging resistance in maize.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Stalk fracture caused by strong wind can severely reduce yields in maize. Stalks with higher stiffness and flexibility will exhibit stronger lodging resistance. However, stalk flexibility is rarely studied in maize. Stalk fracture of the internode above the ear before tasseling will result in the lack of tassel and pollen, which is devastating for pollination in seed production. In this study, we focused on stalk lodging before tasseling in two maize inbred lines, JING724 and its improved line JING724A1 and their F2:3 population. RESULTS:JING724A1 showed a larger stalk fracture angle than JING724, indicating higher flexibility. In addition, compared to JING724, JING724A1 also had longer and thicker stalks, with a conical, frustum-shaped internode above the ear. Microscopy and X-ray microcomputed tomography of the internal stalk architecture revealed that JING724A1 had more vascular bundles and thicker sclerenchyma tissue. Furthermore, total soluble sugar content of JING724A1, especially the glucose component, was substantially higher than in JING724. Using an F2:3 population derived from a JING724 and JING724A1 cross, we performed bulk segregant analysis for stalk fracture angle and detected one QTL located on Chr3: 14.00-19.28?Mb. Through transcriptome data analysis and ? (SNP-index), we identified two candidate genes significantly associated with high stalk fracture angle, which encode a RING/U-box superfamily protein (Zm00001d039769) and a MADS-box transcription factor 54 (Zm00001d039913), respectively. Two KASP markers designed from these two candidate genes also showed significant correlations with stalk fracture angle. CONCLUSIONS:The internode shape and glucose content are possibly correlated with stalk flexibility in maize. Two genes in the detected QTL are potentially associated with stalk fracture angle. These novel phenotypes and associated loci will provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the genetic mechanisms of lodging, and facilitate the selection of maize varieties with improved flexibility and robust lodging resistance.

SUBMITTER: Wang X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7659129 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Stalk architecture, cell wall composition, and QTL underlying high stalk flexibility for improved lodging resistance in maize.

Wang Xiaqing X Shi Zi Z Zhang Ruyang R Sun Xuan X Wang Jidong J Wang Shuai S Zhang Ying Y Zhao Yanxin Y Su Aiguo A Li Chunhui C Wang Ronghuan R Zhang Yunxia Y Wang Shuaishuai S Wang Yuandong Y Song Wei W Zhao Jiuran J

BMC plant biology 20201111 1

<h4>Background</h4>Stalk fracture caused by strong wind can severely reduce yields in maize. Stalks with higher stiffness and flexibility will exhibit stronger lodging resistance. However, stalk flexibility is rarely studied in maize. Stalk fracture of the internode above the ear before tasseling will result in the lack of tassel and pollen, which is devastating for pollination in seed production. In this study, we focused on stalk lodging before tasseling in two maize inbred lines, JING724 and ...[more]

PMID: 33176702

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Project description:BackgroundThe stalk traits stalk diameter, stalk length, rind penetrometer resistance and dry matter content are important indicators for measuring lodging resistance.ResultsIn this study, 377 inbred lines were used as the basic materials, and four stalk-related traits including stalk diameter, stalk length, rind penetrometer resistance and dry matter content of the third segment of maize, were investigated at the tasseling, grain filling, and maturity stages. 461,053 high-quality SNPs which were obtained by whole genome resequencing were used for genome-wide association study. As a result of mixed linear model analysis (P < 9.77 × 10-6), 29 significant SNPs related to traits were detected, accounting for 7.19% -15.03% of phenotypic variation, among which 4, 1, 4 and 20 SNPs were found related to rind penetrometer resistance, stalk diameter, stalk length, and dry matter content respectively. Most candidate genes are related to plant element structure, signal transduction mechanisms, inorganic ion transport and metabolism, nucleotide transport and metabolism, and transporter enzyme families. Comparing mixed linear model with generalized linear model, a total of 12 candidate genes were detected repeatedly, during which the candidate gene Zm00001d014449 were detected 5 times, with a phenotypic variation interpretation rate of 9.95% -10.84%. This gene is mainly expressed in cells with active cell division and tissue differentiation, and is involved in the formation of stalk vascular bundles and the synthesis of cell walls. Another candidate gene, Zm00001d005300, encodes the transcription factor MYB44, which regulates the dependence of salt stress signal phosphorylation, can effectively inhibit the accumulation of destructive reactive oxygen species, and has a certain resistance to non-biotic stress. In addition, this study also found that 10 unknown functional genes can be further Functional verification.ConclusionsThis study helps to deepen the understanding of the genetic basis of traits related to maize stalk lodging resistance, and provides theoretical guidance for future maize lodging resistance breeding.

Project description:BackgroundStalk lodging (breaking of agricultural plant stalks prior to harvest) is a multi-billion dollar a year problem. Rind penetration resistance tests have been used by plant scientists and breeders to estimate the stalk lodging resistance of maize for nearly a hundred years. However, the rind puncture method has two key limitations: (1) the predictive power of the test decreases significantly when measuring elite or pre-commercial hybrids, and (2) using rind penetration measurements as a breeding metric does not necessarily create stronger stalks. In this study, we present a new rind penetration method called the Integrated Puncture Score, which uses a modified rind penetration testing protocol and a physics-based model to provide a robust measure of stalk lodging resistance.ResultsTwo datasets, one with a diverse array of maize hybrids and one with only elite hybrids, were evaluated by comparing traditional rind penetration testing and the Integrated Puncture Score method to measurements of stalk bending strength. When evaluating the diverse set of hybrids, both methods were good predictors of stalk bending strength (R2 values of 0.67). However, when evaluating elite hybrids, the Integrated Puncture Score had an R2 value of 0.74 whereas the traditional method had an R2 value of 0.48. Additionally, the Integrated Puncture Score was able to differentiate between the strongest and weakest hybrids in the elite hybrid data set whereas the traditional rind penetration method was not. Additional experiments revealed strong evidence in favor of the data aggregation steps utilized to compute the Integrated Puncture Score.ConclusionsThis study presents a new method for evaluating rind penetration resistance that highly correlates with stalk bending strength and can possibly be used as a breeding index for assessing stalk lodging resistance. This research lays the foundation required to develop a field-based high-throughput phenotyping device for stalk lodging resistance.

Project description:BackgroundLodging is one of the important factors causing maize yield. Plant height is an important factor in determining plant architecture in maize (Zea mays L.), which is closely related to lodging resistance under high planting density. Coronatine (COR), which is a phytotoxin and produced by the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, is a functional and structural analogue of jasmonic acid (JA).ResultsIn this study, we found COR, as a new plant growth regulator, could effectively reduce plant height and ear height of both hybrids (ZD958 and XY335) and inbred (B73) maize by inhibiting internode growth during elongation, thus improve maize lodging resistance. To study gene expression changes in internode after COR treatment, we collected spatio-temporal transcriptome of inbred B73 internode under normal condition and COR treatment, including the three different regions of internode (fixed, meristem and elongation regions) at three different developmental stages. The gene expression levels of the three regions at normal condition were described and then compared with that upon COR treatment. In total, 8605 COR-responsive genes (COR-RGs) were found, consist of 802 genes specifically expressed in internode. For these COR-RGs, 614, 870, 2123 of which showed expression changes in only fixed, meristem and elongation region, respectively. Both the number and function were significantly changed for COR-RGs identified in different regions, indicating genes with different functions were regulated at the three regions. Besides, we found more than 80% genes of gibberellin and jasmonic acid were changed under COR treatment.ConclusionsThese data provide a gene expression profiling in different regions of internode development and molecular mechanism of COR affecting internode elongation. A putative schematic of the internode response to COR treatment is proposed which shows the basic process of COR affecting internode elongation. This research provides a useful resource for studying maize internode development and improves our understanding of the COR regulation mechanism based on plant height.

Dataset Information

Stalk architecture, cell wall composition, and QTL underlying high stalk flexibility for improved lodging resistance in maize.

Publications

Stalk architecture, cell wall composition, and QTL underlying high stalk flexibility for improved lodging resistance in maize.

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