Synthesis of a Wheat/Maize Hybrid CENH3 Gene, the Genetic Transformation of Wheat, Its Chromosomal Localization and Effects on Chromosome Behaviors in Wheat/Maize Somatic Hybrids

Centromere-specific histone H3 (CENH3) replaces the canonical histone H3 in nucleosomes of functional centromeres, and plays important roles in faithful chromosome segregation during cell division. CENH3 is also important in the recognition of alien centromeres and determines the accommodation or elimination of alien chromosomes in interspecific or intergenic hybridization. In this study, a maize full length CENH3 with a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) tag at C-terminus (ZmCENH3-YFP) and a synthetic hybrid wmCENH3 with the N-terminus from wheat CENH3 and the histone fold domain (HFD) from maize tagged with a red fluorescent protein (RFP) at the C-terminus (wmCENH3-RFP) were transformed to wheat by biolistics transformation. Transgenic wheat plants with both ZmCNEH3-YFP and wmCENH3-RFP genes were identified by PCR. The expression of ZmCENH3-YFP was not observed, while the expression of wmCENH3-RFP could be detected by RT-PCR, direct fluorescence microscopy, and immunostaining with anti-RFP antibody. The expressed wmCENH3-RFP was localized to nuclei as dotted patterns, indicating its targeting to wheat centromeres. Somatic hybridization was performed between wmCENH3-RFP transgenic wheat and transgenic maize that expressed a ZmCENH3-YFP gene to investigate chromosome behaviors in somatic hybrids. Cytological and FISH analyses of somatic hybrid cells showed the formation of micronuclei and lagging chromatin in both somatic hybridizations with or without the wmCENH3-RFP transgene, indicating that ectopically expressed wmCENH3 could not overcome chromosome elimination in wheat/maize somatic hybrids. Immunostaining of wmCENH3-RFP and ZmCENH3-YFP in early stage somatic hybrid cells indicated that both wmCENH3-RFP and ZmCENH3-YFP proteins were expressed, but their binding patterns changed from the commonly observed dotted patterns to diffused ones, suggesting that the inactivation of CENH3 might be a factor for chromosome elimination in wheat/maize somatic hybridization.

Manure substitution improves maize yield by promoting soil fertility and mediating the microbial community in lime concretion black soil

Synthetic nitrogen(N)fertilizer has made a great contribution to the improvement of soil fertility and productivity,but excessive application of synthetic N fertilizer may cause agroecosystem risks,such as soil acidification,groundwater contamination and biodiversity reduction.Meanwhile,organic substitution has received increasing attention for its ecologically and environmentally friendly and productivity benefits.However,the linkages between manure substitution,crop yield and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain uncertain.To bridge this gap,a three-year field experiment was conducted with five fertilization regimes:i)Control,non-fertilization;CF,conventional synthetic fertilizer application;CF_(1/2)M_(1/2),1/2 N input via synthetic fertilizer and 1/2 N input via manure;CF_(1/4)M_(3/4),1/4 N input synthetic fertilizer and 3/4 N input via manure;M,manure application.All fertilization treatments were designed to have equal N input.Our results showed that all manure substituted treatments achieved high soil fertility indexes(SFI)and productivities by increasing the soil organic carbon(SOC),total N(TN)and available phosphorus(AP)concentrations,and by altering the bacterial community diversity and composition compared with CF.SOC,AP,and the soil C:N ratio were mainly responsible for microbial community variations.The co-occurrence network revealed that SOC and AP had strong positive associations with Rhodospirillales and Burkholderiales,while TN and C:N ratio had positive and negative associations with Micromonosporaceae,respectively.These specific taxa are implicated in soil macroelement turnover.Random Forest analysis predicted that both biotic(bacterial composition and Micromonosporaceae)and abiotic(AP,SOC,SFI,and TN)factors had significant effects on crop yield.The present work strengthens our understanding of the effects of manure substitution on crop yield and provides theoretical support for optimizing fertilization strategies.

Identification, pathogenicity, and fungicide sensitivity of Eutiarosporella dactylidis associated with leaf blight on maize in China

Maize(Zea mays L.) is an economically vital grain crop that is cultivated worldwide. In 2011, a maize foliar disease was detected in Lingtai and Lintao counties in Gansu Province, China. The characteristic signs and symptoms of this disease include irregular chlorotic lesions on the tips and edges of infected leaves and black punctate fruiting bodies in dead leaf tissues. Given favourable environmental conditions, this disease spread to areas surrounding Gansu. In this study, infected leaves were collected from Gansu and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region between 2018and 2020 to identify the disease-causing pathogen. Based on morphological features, pathogenicity tests, and multilocus phylogenetic analysis involving internal transcribed spacer(ITS), 18S small subunit rDNA(SSU), 28S large subunit rDNA(LSU), translation elongation factor 1-alpha(TEF), and β-tubulin(TUB) sequences, Eutiarosporella dactylidis was identified as the causative pathogen of this newly discovered leaf blight. Furthermore, an in vitro bioassay was conducted on representative strains using six fungicides, and both fludioxonil and carbendazim were found to significantly inhibit the mycelial growth of E. dactylidis. The results of this study provide a reference for the detection and management of Eutiarosporella leaf blight.

Grain yield and N uptake of maize in response to increased plant density under reduced water and nitrogen supply conditions

The development of modern agriculture requires the reduction of water and chemical N fertilizer inputs.Increasing the planting density can maintain higher yields,but also consumes more of these restrictive resources.However,whether an increased maize density can compensate for the negative effects of reduced water and N supply on grain yield and N uptake in the arid irrigated areas remains unknown.This study is part of a long-term positioning trial that started in 2016.A split-split plot field experiment of maize was implemented in the arid irrigated area of northwestern China in 2020 to 2021.The treatments included two irrigation levels:local conventional irrigation reduced by 20%(W1,3,240 m^(3)ha^(-1))and local conventional irrigation(W2,4,050 m^(3)ha^(-1));two N application rates:local conventional N reduced by 25%(N1,270 kg ha^(-1))and local conventional N(360 kg ha^(-1));and three planting densities:local conventional density(D1,75,000 plants ha^(-1)),density increased by 30%(D2,97,500 plants ha-1),and density increased by 60%(D3,120,000 plants ha^(-1)).Our results showed that the grain yield and aboveground N accumulation of maize were lower under the reduced water and N inputs,but increasing the maize density by 30% can compensate for the reductions of grain yield and aboveground N accumulation caused by the reduced water and N supply.When water was reduced while the N application rate remained unchanged,increasing the planting density by 30% enhanced grain yield by 13.9% and aboveground N accumulation by 15.3%.Under reduced water and N inputs,increasing the maize density by 30% enhanced N uptake efficiency and N partial factor productivity,and it also compensated for the N harvest index and N metabolic related enzyme activities.Compared with W2N2D1,the N uptake efficiency and N partial factor productivity increased by 28.6 and 17.6%under W1N1D2.W1N2D2 had 8.4% higher N uptake efficiency and 13.9% higher N partial factor productivity than W2N2D1.W1N2D2 improved urease activity and nitrate reductase activity by 5.4% at the R2(blister)stage and 19.6% at the V6(6th leaf)stage,and increased net income and the benefit:cost ratio by 22.1 and 16.7%,respectively.W1N1D2 and W1N2D2 reduced the nitrate nitrogen and ammoniacal nitrogen contents at the R6 stage in the 40-100 cm soil layer,compared with W2N2D1.In summary,increasing the planting density by 30% can compensate for the loss of grain yield and aboveground N accumulation under reduced water and N inputs.Meanwhile,increasing the maize density by 30% improved grain yield and aboveground N accumulation when water was reduced by 20% while the N application rate remained constant in arid irrigation areas.

Combining field data and modeling to better understand maize growth response to phosphorus(P) fertilizer application and soil P dynamics in calcareous soils

We used field experimental data to evaluate the ability of the agricultural production system model (APSIM) to simulate soil P availability,maize biomass and grain yield in response to P fertilizer applications on a fluvo-aquic soil in the North China Plain.Crop and soil data from a 2-year experiment with three P fertilizer application rates(0,75 and 300 kg P_(2)O_(5) ha^(–1)) were used to calibrate the model.Sensitivity analysis was carried out to investigate the influence of APSIM SoilP parameters on the simulated P availability in soil and maize growth.Crop and soil P parameters were then derived by matching or relating the simulation results to observed crop biomass,yield,P uptake and Olsen-P in soil.The re-parameterized model was further validated against 2 years of independent data at the same sites.The re-parameterized model enabled good simulation of the maize leaf area index (LAI),biomass,grain yield,P uptake,and grain P content in response to different levels of P additions against both the calibration and validation datasets.Our results showed that APSIM needs to be re-parameterized for simulation of maize LAI dynamics through modification of leaf size curve and a reduction in the rate of leaf senescence for modern staygreen maize cultivars in China.The P concentration limits (maximum and minimum P concentrations in organs)at different stages also need to be adjusted.Our results further showed a curvilinear relationship between the measured Olsen-P concentration and simulated labile P content,which could facilitate the initialization of APSIM P pools in the NCP with Olsen-P measurements in future studies.It remains difficult to parameterize the APSIM SoilP module due to the conceptual nature of the pools and simplified conceptualization of key P transformation processes.A fundamental understanding still needs to be developed for modelling and predicting the fate of applied P fertilizers in soils with contrasting physical and chemical characteristics.

Salicylic acid positively regulates maize defenses against lepidopteran insects

In response to insect attack,plants use intricate signaling pathways,including phytohormones,such as jasmonate(JA),ethylene(ET),and salicylic acid(SA),to activate defenses.Maize(Zea mays)is one of the most important staple food crops around the world.Previous studies have shown that the JA and ET signaling play important roles in maize defense against insects,but little is known about whether and how SA regulates maize resistance to insect herbivores.In this study,we ectopically expressed the NahG(salicylate hydroxylase)gene in maize plants(NahG maize)to block the accumulation of SA.It was found that compared with the wild-type(WT)maize,the NahG-maize exhibited decreased resistance to the generalist insects Spodoptera litura and Spodoptera frugiperda and the specialist Mythimna separata,and the compromised resistance in the NahG maize was associated with decreased levels of defensive metabolites benzoxazinoids(Bxs)and chlorogenic acid(CA).Quantification of simulated S.litura feedinginduced JA,JA-isoleucine conjugate(JA-Ile),and ET in the WT and NahG maize indicated that SA does not regulate JA or JA-Ile,but positively controls ET.We provide evidence suggesting that the SA pathway does not crosstalk with the JA or the ET signaling in regulating the accumulation of Bxs and CA.Transcriptome analysis revealed that the bHLH,ERF,and WRKY transcription factors might be involved in SAregulated defenses.This study uncovers a novel and important phytohormone pathway in maize defense against lepidopterous larvae.

The cytosolic isoform of triosephosphate isomerase,ZmTPI4,is required for kernel development and starch synthesis in maize(Zea mays L.)

Triosephosphate isomerase(TPI)is an enzyme that functions in plant energy production,accumulation,and conversion.To understand its function in maize,we characterized a maize TPI mutant,zmtpi4.In comparison to the wild type,zmtpi4 mutants showed altered ear development,reduced kernel weight and starch content,modified starch granule morphology,and altered amylose and amylopectin content.Protein,ATP,and pyruvate contents were reduced,indicating ZmTPI4 was involved in glycolysis.Although subcellular localization confirmed ZmTPI4 as a cytosolic rather than a plastid isoform of TPI,the zmtpi4 mutant showed reduced leaf size and chlorophyll content.Overexpression of ZmTPI4 in Arabidopsis led to enlarged leaves and increased seed weight,suggesting a positive regulatory role of ZmTPI4 in kernel weight and starch content.We conclude that ZmTPI4 functions in maize kernel development,starch synthesis,glycolysis,and photosynthesis.

Soybean maize strip intercropping:A solution for maintaining food security in China

The practice of intercropping leguminous and gramineous crops is used for promoting sustainable agriculture,optimizing resource utilization,enhancing biodiversity,and reducing reliance on petroleum products.However,promoting conventional intercropping strategies in modern agriculture can prove challenging.The innovative technology of soybean maize strip intercropping(SMSI)has been proposed as a solution.This system has produced remarkable results in improving domestic soybean and maize production for both food security and sustainable agriculture.In this article,we provide an overview of SMSI and explain how it differs from traditional intercropping.We also discuss the core principles that foster higher yields and the prospects for its future development.

Timing effect of high temperature exposure on the plasticity of internode and plant architecture in maize

The occurrence of high temperature(HT)in crop production is becoming more frequent and unpredictable with global warming,severely threatening food security.The state of an organ’s growth and development is largely determined by the temperature conditions it is exposed to over time.Maize is the main cereal crop,and its stem growth and plant architecture are closely related to lodging resistance,and especially sensitive to temperature.However,systematic research on the timing effect of HT on the sequentially developing internode and stem is currently lacking.To identify the timing effect of HT on the morphology and plasticity of the stem in maize,two hybrids(Zhengdan 958(ZD958),Xianyu 335(XY335))characterized by distinct morphological traits in the stem were exposed to a 7-day HT treatment from the V6 to V17 stages(Vn presents the vegetative stage with n leaves fully expanded)in 2019-2020.The results demonstrated that exposure to HT during V6-V12 accelerated the rapid elongation of stems.For instance,HT occurring at V7 and V12 specifically promoted the lengths and weights of the 3rd-5th and 9th-11th internodes,respectively.Meanwhile,HT slowed the growth of internodes adjacent to the promoted internodes.Interestingly,compared with control,the plant height was significantly increased soon after HT treatment,but the promotion effect became narrower at the subsequent flowering stage,demonstrating a self-adjusting mechanism in the maize plant in response to HT.Importantly,HT altered the plant architectures,including a rising of the ear position and increase in the ear position coefficient.XY335 exhibited greater sensitivity in stem development than ZD958 under HT treatment.These findings improve our systematic understanding of the plasticity of internode and plant architecture in response to the timing of HT exposure.

Application of Polygonum minus Extract in Enhancing Drought Tolerance in Maize by Regulating Osmotic and Antioxidant System

Drought stress is a major factor affecting plant growth and crop yield production.Plant extracts as natural biostimulants hold great potential to strengthen plants to overcome drought impacts.To explore the effect of Polygonum minus extract(PME)in enhancing drought tolerance in plants,a study was set up in a glasshouse environment using 10 different treatment combinations.PME foliar application were designed in CRD and effects were closely observed related to the growth,physiology,and antioxidant system changes in maize(Zea mays L.)under well-watered and drought conditions.The seaweed extract(SWE)was used as a comparison.Plants subjected to drought stress exhibited a significant reduction in fresh weight,dry weight,relative water content(RWC),and soluble sugar,but they stimulated the phenolic,flavonoid,proline,glutathione(GSH),malondialdehyde(MDA)and antioxidant enzyme(catalase,CAT;peroxidase,POD;superoxide dismutase,SOD)activities.Foliar application of PME improved fresh and dry weight(FW:33.1%~41.4%;DW:48.0%~43.1%),chlorophyll content(Chl b:87.9%~100.76%),soluble sugar(23.6%~49.3%),and soluble protein(48.6%~56.9%)as well as antioxidant enzyme activities(CAT and POD)compared to CK under drought conditions.while decreasing the level of MDA.Notably,the mitigating effect of PME application with high concentration was more effective than those of SWE.Our study reveals that PME could alleviate drought stress by regulating osmoprotectant content and antioxidant defense system and can be used as an economical and environmentally friendly biostimulants for promoting maize growth under drought stress.

Overexpression of the peroxidase gene ZmPRX1 increases maize seedling drought tolerance by promoting root development and lignification

Drought is a main abiotic stress factor hindering plant growth,development,and crop productivity.Therefore,it is crucial to understand the mechanisms by which plants cope with drought stress.Here,the function of the maize peroxidase gene ZmPRX1 in drought stress tolerance was investigated by measurement of its expression in response to drought treatment both in a ZmPRX1 overexpression line and a mutant line.The higher root lignin accumulation and seedling survival rate of the overexpression line than that of the wild type or mutant support a role for ZmPRX1 in maize drought tolerance by regulating root development and lignification.Additionally,yeast one-hybrid,Dule luciferase and ChIP-qPCR assays showed that ZmPRX1 is negatively regulated by a nuclear-localized ZmWRKY86 transcription factor.The gene could potentially be used for breeding of drought-tolerant cultivars.

Genetic analysis and candidate gene identification of salt tolerancerelated traits in maize

Soil salinization poses a threat to maize production worldwide,but the genetic mechanism of salt tolerance in maize is not well understood.Therefore,identifying the genetic components underlying salt tolerance in maize is of great importance.In the current study,a teosinte-maize BC2F7 population was used to investigate the genetic basis of 21 salt tolerance-related traits.In total,125 QTLs were detected using a high-density genetic bin map,with one to five QTLs explaining 6.05–32.02%of the phenotypic variation for each trait.The total phenotypic variation explained(PVE)by all detected QTLs ranged from 6.84 to 63.88%for each trait.Of all 125 QTLs,only three were major QTLs distributed in two genomic regions on chromosome 6,which were involved in three salt tolerance-related traits.In addition,10 pairs of epistatic QTLs with additive effects were detected for eight traits,explaining 0.9 to 4.44%of the phenotypic variation.Furthermore,18 QTL hotspots affecting 3–7 traits were identified.In one hotspot(L5),a gene cluster consisting of four genes(ZmNSA1,SAG6,ZmCLCg,and ZmHKT1;2)was found,suggesting the involvement of multiple pleiotropic genes.Finally,two important candidate genes,Zm00001d002090 and Zm00001d002391,were found to be associated with salt tolerance-related traits by a combination of linkage and marker-trait association analyses.Zm00001d002090 encodes a calcium-dependent lipid-binding(CaLB domain)family protein,which may function as a Ca^(2+)sensor for transmitting the salt stress signal downstream,while Zm00001d002391 encodes a ubiquitin-specific protease belonging to the C19-related subfamily.Our findings provide valuable insights into the genetic basis of salt tolerance-related traits in maize and a theoretical foundation for breeders to develop enhanced salt-tolerant maize varieties.

Integrating phosphorus management and cropping technology for sustainable maize production

Achieving high maize yields and efficient phosphorus(P)use with limited environmental impacts is one of the greatest challenges in sustainable maize production.Increasing plant density is considered an effective approach for achieving high maize yields.However,the low mobility of P in soils and the scarcity of natural P resources have hindered the development of methods that can simultaneously optimize P use and mitigate the P-related environmental footprint at high plant densities.In this study,meta-analysis and substance flow analysis were conducted to evaluate the effects of different types of mineral P fertilizer on maize yield at varying plant densities and assess the flow of P from rock phosphate mining to P fertilizer use for maize production in China.A significantly higher yield was obtained at higher plant densities than at lower plant densities.The application of single superphosphate,triple super-phosphate,and calcium magnesium phosphate at high plant densities resulted in higher yields and a smaller environmental footprint than the application of diammonium phosphate and monoammonium phosphate.Our scenario analyses suggest that combining the optimal P type and application rate with a high plant density could increase maize yield by 22%.Further,the P resource use efficiency throughout the P supply chain increased by 39%,whereas the P-related environmental footprint decreased by 33%.Thus,simultaneously optimizing the P type and application rate at high plant densities achieved multiple objectives during maize production,indicating that combining P management with cropping techniques is a practical approach to sustainable maize production.These findings offer strategic,synergistic options for achieving sustainable agricultural development.

Population genomic analysis reveals key genetic variations and the driving force for embryonic callus induction capability in maize

Genetic transformation has been an effective technology for improving the agronomic traits of maize.However,it is highly reliant on the use of embryonic callus(EC)and shows a serious genotype dependence.In this study,we performed genomic sequencing for 80 core maize germplasms and constructed a high-density genomic variation map using our newly developed pipeline(MQ2Gpipe).Based on the induction rate of EC(REC),these inbred lines were categorized into three subpopulations.The low-REC germplasms displayed more abundant genetic diversity than the high-REC germplasms.By integrating a genome-wide selective signature screen and region-based association analysis,we revealed 95.23 Mb of selective regions and 43 REC-associated variants.These variants had phenotypic variance explained values ranging between 21.46 and 49.46%.In total,103 candidate genes were identified within the linkage disequilibrium regions of these REC-associated loci.These genes mainly participate in regulation of the cell cycle,regulation of cytokinesis,and other functions,among which MYB15 and EMB2745 were located within the previously reported QTL for EC induction.Numerous leaf area-associated variants with large effects were closely linked to several REC-related loci,implying a potential synergistic selection of REC and leaf size during modern maize breeding.

Optimized nitrogen application for maximizing yield and minimizing nitrogen loss in film mulching spring maize production on the Loess Plateau,China

Excessive use of N fertilizers(driven by high-yield goals)and its consequent environmental problems are becoming increasingly acute in agricultural systems.A 2-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of three N application methods(application of solid granular urea once(OF)or twice(TF),application of solid granular urea mixed with controlled-release urea once(MF),and six N rates(0,60,120,180,240,and 300 kg N ha^(-1))on maize yield,economic benefits,N use efficiency,and soil N balance in the maize(Zea mays L.)film mulching system on the Loess Plateau,China.The grain yield and economic return of maize were significantly affected by the N rate and application method.Compared with the OF treatment,the MF treatment not only increased the maize yield(increased by 9.0-16.7%)but also improved the economic return(increased by 10.9-25.8%).The agronomic N use efficiency(NAE),N partial factor productivity(NPFP)and recovery N efficiency(NRE)were significantly improved by 19.3-66.7,9.0-16.7 and 40.2-71.5%,respectively,compared with the OF treatment.The economic optimal N rate(EONR)of the OF,TF,and MF was 145.6,147.2,and 144.9 kg ha^(-1) in 2019,and 206.4,186.4,and 146.0 kg ha^(-1) in 2020,respectively.The apparent soil N loss at EONR of the OF,TF,and MF were 97.1-100.5,78.5-79.3,and 50.5-68.1 kg ha^(-1),respectively.These results support MF as a one-time N application method for delivering high yields and economic benefits,with low N input requirements within film mulching spring maize system on the Loess Plateau.

ZmCYP90D1 regulates maize internode development by modulating brassinosteroid-mediated cell division and growth

Plant height(PH)is associated with lodging resistance and planting density,which is regulated by a complicated gene network.In this study,we identified a spontaneous dwarfing mutation in maize,m30,with decreased internode number and length but increased internode diameter.A candidate gene,ZmCYP90D1,which encodes a member of the cytochrome P450 family,was isolated by map-based cloning.ZmCYP90D1 was constitutively expressed and showed highest expression in basal internodes,and its protein was targeted to the nucleus.A G-to-A substitution was identified to be the causal mutation,which resulted in a truncated protein in m30.Loss of function of ZmCYP90D1 changed expression of hormoneresponsive genes,in particular brassinosteroid(BR)-responsive genes which is mainly involved in cell cycle regulation and cell wall extension and modification in plants.The concentration of typhasterol(TY),a downstream intermediate of ZmCYP90D1 in the BR pathway,was reduced.A haplotype conferring dwarfing without reducing yield was identified.ZmCYP90D1 was inferred to influence plant height and stalk diameter via hormone-mediated cell division and cell growth via the BR pathway.

Improving dryland maize productivity and water efficiency with heterotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria via nitrification and cytokinin activity

A two-year field experiment conducted under dryland conditions in semi-humid and drought-prone regions of China aimed to assess the effect of ammonia-oxidizing bacterial on maize water use efficiency and yield.A heterotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(HAOB)strain S2_8_1 was used.Six treatments were applied:(1)no irrigation+HAOB strain(DI),(2)no irrigation+blank culture medium(DM),(3)no irrigation control(DCK),(4)irrigation+HAOB(WI),(5)irrigation+blank culture medium(WM),and(6)irrigation control(WCK).Results revealed that HAOB treatment increased maize growth,yield,and water use efficiency over controls,regardless of whether the year was wet or dry.This improvement was attributed to the accelerated nitrification in the rhizosphere soil due to HAOB inoculation,which subsequently led to increased levels of leaf cytokinins.Overall,these findings suggest that HAOB inoculation holds promise as a strategy to boost water use efficiency and maize productivity in dryland agriculture.

A novel semi-dominant allele of the transmembrane NAC transcription factor ZmNTL2 reduces the size of multiple maize organs

Maize plant architecture influences planting density and,in turn,grain yield.Most of the plant architecture-related traits can be described as organ size.We describe a miniature maize mutant,Tiny plant 4(Tip4),which exhibits reduced size of multiple organs and exhibits a semi-dominant monofactorial inheritance characteristic.Positional cloning confirmed that a 4-bp deletion in the NAC TF with transmembrane motif 1-Like(NTL)gene ZmNTL2,denoted as ZmNTL2^(Δ),confers the Tip4 mutation.qRT-PCR showed that ZmNTL2 was expressed in all tested tissues.ZmNTL2 functions as a transcriptional activator and is located in both the nucleus and biomembranes.The mutation does not affect the mRNA abundance of ZmNTL2 locus,but it does result in the loss of transmembrane domain and confines the ZmNTL2^(Δ)protein to the nucleus.Knocking out ZmNTL2 has no effect on maize organ size development,indicating that the 4-bp deletion might be a gain-of-function mutation in organ size regulation.Combining transcriptome sequencing with cytokinin and auxin content determination suggests that the decreased organ size may be possibly mediated by changes in hormone homeostasis.

Response of the Maize Variety EV87-28 to a Fertilization Strategy Involving Indorama Granular Urea on Ferralsol in the Central Ivory Coast

In Côte d’Ivoire, the decline in soil fertility strongly impacts the productivity of maize (Zea mays L.) on heavily leached ferralitic soil. In this study, the general objective was therefore to improve the productivity of maize EV87-28 on the Ferralsols in pre-forested areas during different cropping seasons. Eight (8) micro-plots were set up according to a total randomization device with three repetitions. Two factors were studied: nitrogen fertilizer modalities (main factor) and crop season (secondary factor). Growth, flowering and yield parameters were measured and analyzed. The results showed that there was no interaction between the nitrogen fertilizer factor and the cropping season factor. In addition, this study showed the short rainy season had the most positive impact on growth, flowering and yield parameters than the long rainy season. The results also showed that the different nitrogen fertilizer modalities had no statistically different effects on growth, flowering and yield parameters. However, quantitative differences were reported, highlighting one nitrogen fertilizer modality, which is the combination of urea granule + farm manure (75% urea indorama granules and 25% farm manure). The combination of urea granule + farm manure (75% urea indorama granules and 25% farm manure) had the best effect on corn grain yield. So, the combination of urea (75%) and manure (25%), that resulted in yield gain, could be recommended for corn fertilization during the small rainy season.

Dynamics and genetic regulation of macronutrient concentrations during grain development in maize

Nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), and potassium(K) are essential macronutrients that are crucial not only for maize growth and development, but also for crop yield and quality. The genetic basis of macronutrient dynamics and accumulation during grain filling in maize remains largely unknown. In this study, we evaluated grain N, P, and K concentrations in 206 recombinant inbred lines generated from a cross of DH1M and T877 at six time points after pollination. We then calculated conditional phenotypic values at different time intervals to explore the dynamic characteristics of the N, P, and K concentrations. Abundant phenotypic variations were observed in the concentrations and net changes of these nutrients. Unconditional quantitative trait locus(QTL) mapping revealed 41 non-redundant QTLs, including 17, 16, and 14 for the N, P, and K concentrations, respectively. Conditional QTL mapping uncovered 39 non-redundant QTLs related to net changes in the N, P, and K concentrations. By combining QTL, gene expression, co-expression analysis, and comparative genomic data, we identified 44, 36, and 44 candidate genes for the N, P, and K concentrations, respectively, including GRMZM2G371058 encoding a Doftype zinc finger DNA-binding family protein, which was associated with the N concentration, and GRMZM2G113967encoding a CBL-interacting protein kinase, which was related to the K concentration. The results deepen our understanding of the genetic factors controlling N, P, and K accumulation during maize grain development and provide valuable genes for the genetic improvement of nutrient concentrations in maize.