Expression of ZmLEA3, AOX2 and ZmPP2C genes in maize lines associated with tolerance to water deficit

Abstract

Knowing genes related to water deficit is a valuable tool to assist and accelerate the selection process of maize genotypes more adapted to drought conditions. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate genes expression related to tolerance to water deficit in maize lines, using proteomic and transcriptomic analyses. Two lines previously classified as tolerant (91-T) and non-tolerant (57-NT) to low water availability were used. Dried seeds, ears tips, and seedlings (collected at three, five, and seven days after sowing) of the two maize lines (91-T and 57-NT) were used in proteomic analyses. Seedlings were subject to two contrasting water-availability conditions (70% and 10% of the water retention capacity). The expression of catalase, peroxidase, and esterase enzymes and heat-resistant proteins were evaluated by electrophoresis. Dried seeds, ears tips, and seedlings (collected at seven days after sowing, subject to two contrasting water-availability conditions) of two maize lines (91-T and 57-NT) were used in the transcriptomic analyses. The expression of genes associated with tolerance to low water availability (ZmPP2C, ZmLEA3, and AOX2) was evaluated by the qRT-PCR technique. Results revealed that catalase, peroxidase, and esterase enzymes had a higher expression on the ears tips of the 91-T line. The expression of catalase and esterase enzymes reduced in seven-day-old seedlings in the two lines analyzed. Heat-resistant proteins had greater activity on the dried seeds of the 91-T line. The AOX2 gene was identified as a potential marker for the selection of maize genotypes tolerant to water deficit.

Function analysis of ZmZHD9, a positive regulator in drought stress response in transgenic maize

“…In Arabidopsis, DREB1A and DREB2A speci cally interact with dehydration-responsive element (C-repeat) involved in drought stress-responsive gene expression [21]. Subsequent studies showed that ZmLEA3, ZmSNAC1 and RD22 are stress-inducible genes that improve resistance to abiotic stress in transgenic plants [39][40][41]. Similarly, in our study, the expression of stress-responsive genes including ZmP5CS1, ZmABI2, ZmED22, ZmSNC1, ZmDRE2A and ZmLEA3 were higher in transgenic lines than in wild-type plants under drought stress (Fig.…”

Enzymatic activity and gene expression related to drought stress tolerance in maize seeds and seedlings

“…It is known that in response to water stress occurs the increase in the expression of some genes that give the plants a better adaptation to this condition. Among those already studied in maize, we can highlight the genes ZmLEA3, ZmPP2C, ZmCPK11, ZmDREB2A/2.1S, ZmDBP3 and ZmAN13 for this trait (Koussevitzky et al 2008;Wang et al 2009;Hu et al 2010;Xuan et al 2011;Caverzan et al 2012;Zhou et al 2012;Liu et al 2013;Marques et al 2019).…”