Mining of Potential Gene Resources for Breeding Nutritionally Improved Maize.

Quancan Hou,Linlin Wang,Yan Long,Yuchen Qi,Xun Wei,Xiangyuan Wan,Lu Lu,Kangtai Sun,Tingwei Yan,Wei Zhao,Tianye Zhang

doi:10.3390/plants11050627

Abstract

Maize is one of the leading food crops and its kernel is rich in starch, lipids, protein and other energy substances. In addition, maize kernels also contain many trace elements that are potentially beneficial to human health, such as vitamins, minerals and other secondary metabolites. However, gene resources that could be applied for nutrient improvement are limited in maize. In this review, we summarized 107 genes that are associated with nutrient content from different plant species and identified 246 orthologs from the maize genome. In addition, we constructed physical maps and performed a detailed expression pattern analysis for the 246 maize potential gene resources. Combining expression profiles and their potential roles in maize nutrient improvement, genetic engineering by editing or ectopic expression of these genes in maize are expected to improve resistant starch, oil, essential amino acids, vitamins, iron, zinc and anthocyanin levels of maize grains. Thus, this review provides valuable gene resources for maize nutrient improvement.

Highlights

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the main food crops in the world, which stands first among the grain crops in terms of yield production
We summarize 107 genes that have been reported to be related to the above contents from different plant species, including A. thaliana, rice, soybean and potato, tomato, nutrient contents from different plant species, including A. thaliana, rice, soybean and poetc.; the protein sequences of these were used as queries to blast a maize genome with blastP
We summarized genes associated with nutrient biosynthesis, uptake and transport from different plant species, and 246 homologous genes were identified from the maize genome

Summary

Introduction

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the main food crops in the world, which stands first among the grain crops in terms of yield production. We summarize 107 genes that have been reported to be related to the above contents from different plant species, including A. thaliana, rice, soybean and potato, tomato, nutrient contents from different plant species, including A. thaliana, rice, soybean and poetc.; the protein sequences of these were used as queries to blast a maize genome with blastP tato, tomato, etc.; the protein sequences of these were used as queries to blast a maize on the Gramene website (http://ensembl.gramene.org/Zea_mays/Info/Index, accessed genome with blastP on the Gramene website (http://enon 20 February 2022). 2022) were performed to to their conIn addition, chromosomal mapping of these genes was carried out according firm the candidate sequences as maize homologs. We discuss the strategies of using these genespoto tential desired gene resources in maize early seeds,candidate kernels and non-seed addition, we obtain traits, providing a valuable gene pool fortissues. Identification of Maize Potential Gene Resources for Starch Content Improvement

Identification of Maize

Identification of Maize Potential Gene Resources for Oil Content Improvement

Discussion

10. Conclusions