Dataset Information

Global transcriptional profiling between inbred parents and hybrids provides comprehensive insights into ear-length heterosis of maize (Zea mays).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Maize (Zea mays) ear length, which is an important yield component, exhibits strong heterosis. Understanding the potential molecular mechanisms of ear-length heterosis is critical for efficient yield-related breeding.

Results

Here, a joint netted pattern, including six parent-hybrid triplets, was designed on the basis of two maize lines harboring long (T121 line) and short (T126 line) ears. Global transcriptional profiling of young ears (containing meristem) was performed. Multiple comparative analyses revealed that 874 differentially expressed genes are mainly responsible for the ear-length variation between T121 and T126 lines. Among them, four key genes, Zm00001d049958, Zm00001d027359, Zm00001d048502 and Zm00001d052138, were identified as being related to meristem development, which corroborated their roles in the superior additive genetic effects on ear length in T121 line. Non-additive expression patterns were used to identify candidate genes related to ear-length heterosis. A non-additively expressed gene (Zm00001d050649) was associated with the timing of meristematic phase transition and was determined to be the homolog of tomato SELF PRUNING, which assists SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS in driving yield-related heterosis, indicating that Zm00001d050649 is a potential contributor to drive heterotic effect on ear length.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that inbred parents provide genetic and heterotic effects on the ear lengths of their corresponding F₁ hybrids through two independent pathways. These findings provide comprehensive insights into the transcriptional regulation of ear length and improve the understanding of ear-length heterosis in maize.

SUBMITTER: Zhang X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7908659 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Global transcriptional profiling between inbred parents and hybrids provides comprehensive insights into ear-length heterosis of maize (Zea mays).

Zhang Xiangge X Ma Chenchen C Wang Xiaoqing X Wu Mingbo M Shao Jingkuan J Huang Li L Yuan Liang L Fu Zhiyuan Z Li Weihua W Zhang Xuehai X Guo Zhanyong Z Tang Jihua J

BMC plant biology 20210226 1

<h4>Background</h4>Maize (Zea mays) ear length, which is an important yield component, exhibits strong heterosis. Understanding the potential molecular mechanisms of ear-length heterosis is critical for efficient yield-related breeding.<h4>Results</h4>Here, a joint netted pattern, including six parent-hybrid triplets, was designed on the basis of two maize lines harboring long (T121 line) and short (T126 line) ears. Global transcriptional profiling of young ears (containing meristem) was perform ...[more]

PMID: 33637040

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Project description:In this study expression levels of 732 genes were analyzed for European maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines (4 Flint and 5 Dent) and nine corresponding hybrids by microarray analysis. The selection of the 732 genes was based on a previous study (Thiemann et al., Theor Appl Genet 2010, 120:401-413), which sequences were derived from the 46k microarray (platform GPL6438) (University of Arizona, USA). 558 of the 732 genes represented on the microarray were differentially expressed between the original 21 parental inbred lines and were correlated with at least one of the three characteristics MPH (mid-parent heterosis) and/or HP (hybrid performance) of the trait GY (grain yield) and/or HP of the trait grain dry matter content. Some of those correlated genes show overlapping correlations. The residual 174 non-correlated genes belong to the top 6 biological processes that were found to be enriched among the HP for GY-correlated genes (Thiemann et al., Theor Appl Genet 2010, 120:401–413). The aim of this study was the identification of the hybrid expression pattern of the subset of genes, which mid-parental expression levels were shown to be correlated with MPH for GY or showed no correlation. For the analysis total RNA of 7-day old seedlings was extracted and amino-allyl-labeled RNA was synthesized. The microarrays were scanned (AppliedPrecision ArrayWorx Scanner, Applied Precision Inc., USA) and data were evaluated using the Software GenePix Pro 4.0 (Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, USA). Hybridizations were conducted between each pair of parental inbred lines and its corresponding hybrids. In total 4 biological replicates per genotype were analyzed. As a result 119 (22.9 %) of the 519 MPH for GY or non-correlated genes showed differential expression in at least one of the nine inbred-hybrid comparisons. These differentially expressed genes were further analyzed for hybrid expression, resulting in a mainly additive expression. Of all differential expression, additive expression of 86.21 % (with 13.79 % non-additive) of the MPH-correlated genes, and a slightly smaller contingent of 79.66 % (with 20.34 % non-additive) of the non-correlated genes was measured.

Project description:Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, contributes to superior agronomic performance of hybrids compared to their inbred parents. Despite its importance, little is known about the genetic and molecular basis of heterosis. Early maize ear inflorescences formation affects grain yield, and are thus an excellent model for molecular mechanisms involved in heterosis. To determine the parental contributions and their regulation during maize ear-development-genesis, we analyzed genome-wide digital gene expression profiles in two maize elite inbred lines (B73 and Mo17) and their F1 hybrid using deep sequencing technology. Our analysis revealed 17,128 genes expressed in these three genotypes and 22,789 genes expressed collectively in the present study. Approximately 38% of the genes were differentially expressed in early maize ear inflorescences from heterotic cross, including many transcription factor genes and some presence/absence variations (PAVs) genes, and exhibited multiple modes of gene action. These different genes showing differential expression patterns were mainly enriched in five cellular component categories (organelle, cell, cell part, organelle part and macromolecular complex), five molecular function categories (structural molecule activity, binding, transporter activity, nucleic acid binding transcription factor activity and catalytic activity), and eight biological process categories (cellular process, metabolic process, biological regulation, regulation of biological process, establishment of localization, cellular component organization or biogenesis, response to stimulus and localization). Additionally, a significant number of genes were expressed in only one inbred line or absent in both inbred lines. Comparison of the differences of modes of gene action between previous studies and the present study revealed only a small number of different genes had the same modes of gene action in both maize seedlings and ear inflorescences. This might be an indication that in different tissues or developmental stages, different global expression patterns prevail, which might nevertheless be related to heterosis. Our results support the hypotheses that multiple molecular mechanisms (dominance and overdominance modes) contribute to heterosis.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Utilization of heterosis in maize could be critical in maize breeding for boosting grain yield. However, the genetic architecture of heterosis is not fully understood. To dissect the genetic basis of yield-related traits and heterosis in maize, 301 recombinant inbred lines derived from 08 to 641?×?YE478 and 298 hybrids from the immortalized F2 (IF2) population were used to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for nine yield-related traits and mid-parent heterosis. RESULTS:We observed 156 QTLs, 28 pairs of loci with epistatic interaction, and 10 significant QTL?×?environment interactions in the inbred and hybrid mapping populations. The high heterosis in F1 and IF2 populations for kernel weight per ear (KWPE), ear weight per ear (EWPE), and kernel number per row (KNPR) matched the high percentages of QTLs (over 50%) for those traits exhibiting overdominance, whereas a notable predominance of loci with dominance effects (more than 70%) was observed for traits that show low heterosis such as cob weight per ear (CWPE), rate of kernel production (RKP), ear length (EL), ear diameter (ED), cob diameter, and row number (RN). The environmentally stable QTL qRKP3-2 was identified across two mapping populations, while qKWPE9, affecting the trait mean and the mid-parent heterosis (MPH) level, explained over 18% of phenotypic variations. Nine QTLs, qEWPE9-1, qEWPE10-1, qCWPE6, qEL8, qED2-2, qRN10-1, qKWPE9, qKWPE10-1, and qRKP4-3, accounted for over 10% of phenotypic variation. In addition, QTL mapping identified 95 QTLs that were gathered together and integrated into 33 QTL clusters on 10 chromosomes. CONCLUSIONS:The results revealed that (1) the inheritance of yield-related traits and MPH in the heterotic pattern improved Reid (PA)?×?Tem-tropic I (PB) is trait-dependent; (2) a large proportion of loci showed dominance effects, whereas overdominance also contributed to MPH for KNPR, EWPE, and KWPE; (3) marker-assisted selection for markers at genomic regions 1.09-1.11, 2.04, 3.08-3.09, and 10.04-10.05 contributed to hybrid performance per se and heterosis and were repeatedly reported in previous studies using different heterotic patterns is recommended.

Dataset Information

Global transcriptional profiling between inbred parents and hybrids provides comprehensive insights into ear-length heterosis of maize (Zea mays).

Background

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Global transcriptional profiling between inbred parents and hybrids provides comprehensive insights into ear-length heterosis of maize (Zea mays).

Similar Datasets

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