Proteomics reveals the effects of drought stress on the kernel development and starch formation of waxy maize

Abstract

Background Kernel development and starch formation are the primary determinants of maize yield and quality, which are considerably influenced by drought stress. To clarify the response of maize kernel to drought stress, we established well-watered (WW) and water-stressed (WS) conditions at 1–30 days after pollination (dap) on waxy maize (Zea mays L. sinensis Kulesh). Results Kernel development, starch accumulation, and activities of starch biosynthetic enzymes were significantly reduced by drought stress. The morphology of starch granules changed, whereas the grain filling rate was accelerated. A comparative proteomics approach was applied to analyze the proteome change in kernels under two treatments at 10 dap and 25 dap. Under the WS conditions, 487 and 465 differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) were identified at 10 dap and 25 dap, respectively. Drought induced the downregulation of proteins involved in the oxidation–reduction process and oxidoreductase, peroxidase, catalase, glutamine synthetase, abscisic acid stress ripening 1, and lipoxygenase, which might be an important reason for the effect of drought stress on kernel development. Notably, several proteins involved in waxy maize endosperm and starch biosynthesis were upregulated at early-kernel stage under WS conditions, which might have accelerated endosperm development and starch synthesis. Additionally, 17 and 11 common DAPs were sustained in the upregulated and downregulated DAP groups, respectively, at 10 dap and 25 dap. Among these 28 proteins, four maize homologs (i.e., A0A1D6H543, B4FTP0, B6SLJ0, and A0A1D6H5J5) were considered as candidate proteins that affected kernel development and drought stress response by comparing with the rice genome. Conclusions The proteomic changes caused by drought were highly correlated with kernel development and starch accumulation, which were closely related to the final yield and quality of waxy maize. Our results provided a foundation for the enhanced understanding of kernel development and starch formation in response to drought stress in waxy maize.

Amassing of heavy metals in soils, vegetables and crop plants irrigated with wastewater: Health risk assessment of heavy metals in Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan

“…Heavy metals (mg/kg) were detected in the irrigated soils and vegetables were in the order of Cr [(17.89) > Ni (9.24) > Zn (2.31) > Pb (0.84) > Cu (0.29) > Cd (0.186); and Mn (137.3) > Cr (6.62) > Fe ( 968)]. Chromium, Mn, Fe, Ni, and Pb were exceeding the FAO/WHO limits (Aderinola and Kusemiju, 2012;Rafique et al, 2016;Latif et al, 2018;Guo et al, 2021).…”

Effects of post-silking low temperature on the starch and protein metabolism, endogenous hormone contents, and quality of grains in waxy maize

“…The activities of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), sucrose synthase (SuSy), AGPase, SSS, SBE, starch-debranching enzyme (SDBE), nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) in grains at different stages (5,10,15,20,25 and 30 DAP) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using reagent kits ml10724, ml10561, ml20341, ml10983, ml076664, ml10726, ml076501, ml076529, and ml076499, respectively, which were obtained from Shanghai Enzyme-linked Biotechnology Co., Ltd (Shanghai, China) (Guo et al, 2021). All enzymatic activities were performed in triplicate.…”

Application of Exogenous 6‐benzyladenine at the Silking‐Stage Improves the Starch Quality of Waxy Maize Suffering from Post‐Silking Drought Stress

“…[ 20 ] The enlarged starch granule size of JKN2000 under drought conditions might be because the endosperm cells of this hybrid produced minimal amyloplast, and existing granules received increased substrate to growth. [ 21 ] The response to drought between the two hybrids is dependent on the equilibration of the granule number and weight in endosperm cells. Further study on the morphology of endosperm cells at various grain‐filling phases can help to clarify the differences observed herein.…”