Abstract
BackgroundsGrain size is a key factor in crop yield that gradually develops after pollination. However, few studies have reported gene expression patterns in maize grain development using large-grain mutants. To investigate the developmental mechanisms of grain size, we analyzed a large-grain mutant, named tc19, at the morphological and transcriptome level at five stages corresponding to days after pollination (DAP).ResultsAfter maturation, the grain length, width, and thickness in tc19 were greater than that in Chang7-2 (control) and increased by 3.57, 8.80, and 3.88%, respectively. Further analysis showed that grain width and 100-kernel weight in tc19 was lower than in Chang7-2 at 14 and 21 DAP, but greater than that in Chang7-2 at 28 DAP, indicating that 21 to 28 DAP was the critical stage for kernel width and weight development. For all five stages, the concentrations of auxin and brassinosteroids were significantly higher in tc19 than in Chang7-2. Gibberellin was higher at 7, 14, and 21 DAP, and cytokinin was higher at 21 and 35 DAP, in tc19 than in Chang7-2. Through transcriptome analysis at 14, 21, and 28 DAP, we identified 2987, 2647 and 3209 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tc19 and Chang7-2. By using KEGG analysis, 556, 500 and 633 DEGs at 14, 21 and 28 DAP were pathway annotated, respectively, 77 of them are related to plant hormone signal transduction pathway. ARF3, AO2, DWF4 and XTH are higher expressed in tc19 than that in Chang7-2.ConclusionsWe found some DEGs in maize grain development by using Chang7-2 and a large-grain mutant tc19. These DEGs have potential application value in improving maize performance.
Highlights
Maize is an important human food, livestock feed, and bioenergy crop of great economic significance
Grain size and grain weight To elucidate the consequence of mutations on grain size development, we performed morphological analysis using tc19 and Chang7-2 in two locations for 2 years
We found that the length, width, thickness, and 100-kernel weight of the mature seeds of tc19 were significantly greater than in Chang7-2 (Table 1)
Summary
Maize is an important human food, livestock feed, and bioenergy crop of great economic significance. Global maize production reached 1.1 billion tons in 2019 according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, providing a significant amount of food, feed, and bioenergy raw materials. Maize seeds are composed of an embryo, endosperm, and seed coat. The maize embryo includes the germ, germ sheath, hypocotyl, radicle, sheath, and shield. The maize endosperm accounts for more than 80% of the volume and dry weight of the whole seed and is the most important component of maize seeds. The weight and quality of maize seeds are determined by the development, proliferation, and enrichment of endosperm cells. The maize endosperm is developed by the fusion of a male gamete with two polar nuclei
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