HaHB11 transformed maize has improved yield under waterlogging and defoliation in control and field conditions

Abstract

HaHB11 is a sunflower transcription factor previously described as conferring improved yield to maize hybrids and lines. Here we report that transgenic HaHB11 maize lines exhibited a better performance funder waterlogging, both in greenhouse and field trials carried out during three growth cycles. One of these trials was particularly affected by a strong storm during flowering, causing severe defoliation. Controlled defoliation assays indicated that the transgenic genotypes were able to set more grains than controls. Hybrids were generated by crossing B73 HaHB11 lines with the contrasting Mo17 lines and tested in the field. These hybrids exhibited the same beneficial traits as the parental lines when compared with their respective controls. Waterlogging tolerance coursed via the root architecture improvement, including more xylem vessels, reduced tissue damage, less superoxide accumulation, and altered carbohydrate metabolism compared to controls. Multivariate analyses corroborated the robustness of the differential traits observed. Furthermore, canopy spectral reflectance data, computing 29 vegetation indices associated with biomass, chlorophyll, and abiotic stress, helped to identify genotypes as well as their growing conditions. Altogether the results reported here indicate that this sunflower gene constitutes a suitable tool to improve maize plants for environments prone to waterlogging and/or wind defoliation.One sentence summaryPhenotyping and big data analyses indicate that the transcription factor HaHB11 confers waterlogging and defoliation tolerance, and increased yield to maize lines and hybrids in all tested conditions.

Recursos fitogenéticos nativos de la región de La Mojana: una poderosa estrategia de resiliencia de los pequeños productores para mejorar la productividad ante los efectos de la variabilidad climática

“…Estas respuestas pudieron presentarse en las plantas del grupo de hortalizas, transitorias o perennes cuando estuvieron expuestas directamente al estrés hídrico; es probable que también se produjera la inactivación de Rubisco, como consecuencia de una reducción en el contenido de clorofila y de la eficiencia del PSII (indicadores no medidos y/o evaluados). Como se mencionó, es posible que estos condujeran a una disminución rápida en la fotosíntesis (deficiencia en la producción de poder energético ATP y poder reductor NADPH), debido a las restricciones en la tasa de difusión de CO 2 en las células subestomáticas de las hojas (Raineri et al, 2021).…”

Exploring the Potential of Multiomics and Other Integrative Approaches for Improving Waterlogging Tolerance in Plants

“…Similarly, overexpression of VHb gene in Cabbage and Petunias increases waterlogging tolerance [ 108 , 109 ]. According to Raineri et al [ 110 ], overexpression of HaHB11 in Zea mays significantly increased the waterlogging tolerance when compared to wild plants. On the other hand, Arabidopsis plants expressing AtACO5 gene increased ET accumulation, and cell expansion which in turn modulated key traits leading to waterlogging stress resilience [ 111 ].…”