The effect of amylose on kernel phenotypic characteristics,starch-related gene expression and amylose inheritance in naturally mutated high-amylose maize

High-amylose maize starch has great pote ntial for widespread in dustrial use due to its ability to form strong gels and film and in the food processi ng field,thus servi ng as a resista nt starch source.However,there is still a substa ntial shortage of high-amylose maize due to the limitation of natural germplasm resources,although the well-known amylose extender(ae)gene mutants have bee n found to produce high-amylose maize lines since 1948.In this con text,high-amylose maize lines(13 inbreds and 18 hybrids)originating from a natural amylose mutant in our testing field were utilized to study the correlation between amylose content(AC)and phenotypic traits(kernel morphology and endosperm glossiness),grain filling characteristics,gene expression,and amylose inheritanee.Our results showed that AC was negatively correlated with total starch con tent but was not correlated with grain phe no types,such as kernel full ness,kernel morphology and endosperm glossiness.Maize lines with higher amylose had a greater grain filling rate than that of the controI(B73)during the first 20 days after pollination(DAP).Both starch debranching enzyme(DBE)groups and starch branching enzyme lib(SBEIIb)groups showed a greater abundance in the control(B73)than in the high-amylose maize lines.Male parents directly predicted AC of Fv which was moderately positively correlated with the F2 generation.