Abstract
BackgroundModification of root architecture and improvement of root resistance to stresses can increase crop productivity. Functional analyses of root-specific genes are necessary for root system improvement, and root-specific promoters enable research into the regulation of root development and genetic manipulation of root traits. Maize is an important crop species; however, little systematic mining of root-specific genes and promoters has been performed to date.ResultsGenomic-scale mining based on microarray data sets followed by transcript detection resulted in the identification of 222 root-specific genes. Gene Ontology enrichment analyses revealed that these 222 root-specific genes were mainly involved in responses to chemical, biotic, and abiotic stresses. Of the 222 genes, 33 were verified by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and 31 showed root-preferential activity. About 2 kb upstream 5 of the 31 identified root-preferential genes were cloned from the maize genome as putative promoters and named p8463, p5023, p1534, p8531 and p6629. GUS staining of transgenic maize-derived promoter-GUS constructs revealed that the five promoters drove GUS expression in a root-preferential manner.ConclusionsWe mined root-preferential genes and their promoters in maize and verified p8463, p5023, p1534, p8531 and p6629 as root-preferential promoters. Our research enables the identification of other tissue-specific genes and promoters in maize and other species. In addition, the five promoters may enable enhancement of target gene(s) of maize in a root-preferential manner to generate novel maize cultivars with resistance to water, fertilizer constraints, or biotic stresses.
Highlights
Modification of root architecture and improvement of root resistance to stresses can increase crop productivity
Screening of root-specific genes in maize To identify root-specific genes, we performed genomescale screening using a microarray data set consisting of 17,555 probe sets for 13,339 maize genes [30]
Roots were divided into three developmental stages: 6 days after sowing (DAS)_GH_primary root, vegetative emergence (VE)_primary root, and vegetative 1_GH_primary root
Summary
Modification of root architecture and improvement of root resistance to stresses can increase crop productivity. Functional analyses of root-specific genes are necessary for root system improvement, and rootspecific promoters enable research into the regulation of root development and genetic manipulation of root traits. Maize is an important crop species; little systematic mining of root-specific genes and promoters has been performed to date. A plant’s root system can be modified to enhance the capture of water and nutrients and to sense and adapt to abiotic and biotic stresses, improving crop productivity [1,2,3]. The use of a suitable promoter is a key determinant in plant genetic transformation. Constitutive promoters, such as the 35S promoter and the maize ubiquitin promoter, are used to generate transgenic plants,
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