Transcriptome analysis reveals the mechanism of internode development affecting maize stalk strength

Abstract

Background The stalk rind is one of the important factors affecting maize stalk strength that is closely related to stalk lodging. However, the mechanism of rind development in maize is still largely unknown. Results In this study, we analyzed the mechanical, anatomical, and biochemical properties of the third basal internode in one maize non-stiff-stalk (NSS) line and two stiff-stalk (SS) lines. Compared with the NSS line, the two SS lines had a significantly higher rind penetrometer resistance, thicker rind, and higher dry matter, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin weights per unit length. RNA-seq analysis was used to compare transcriptomes of the third basal internode of the two SS lines and the NSS line at the ninth leaf and tasseling stages. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that genes involved in hydrolase activity (hydrolyzing O-glycosyl compounds) and cytoskeleton organization were significantly up-regulated in the two SS lines at the ninth leaf stage and that microtubule process-related genes were significantly up-regulated in the two SS lines at the tasseling stage. Moreover, the two SS lines had enhanced expression of cell wall metabolism-related genes at the tasseling stage. Conclusions The synthesis of cell wall polysaccharides and the cytoskeleton might play important roles in internode development. Our results can be applied for screening lodging-resistant inbred lines and breeding lodging-resistant cultivars in maize.

Transcriptomics of Leaf Development in the Endangered Dioecious Magnolia kwangsiensis: Molecular Basis Underpinning Specialized Metabolism Genes

“…The combination of elevated cell wall investments and a surge in polysaccharide biosynthesis implies that specialized metabolism escalation complements structural enhancement in mature leaves. The mechanistic overlap between defensive chemistry and architectural robustness hints at intriguing complementary selection pressures that shape the duality of structure and function during leaf history [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Photosynthetic maturation thus proceeds with tissue resilience and chemical defense amplification to secure plant stability and survival [ 25 , 26 , 28 ].…”

“…The mechanistic overlap between defensive chemistry and architectural robustness hints at intriguing complementary selection pressures that shape the duality of structure and function during leaf history [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Photosynthetic maturation thus proceeds with tissue resilience and chemical defense amplification to secure plant stability and survival [ 25 , 26 , 28 ].…”

Integrating biochemical and anatomical characterizations with transcriptome analysis to dissect superior stem strength of ZS11 (Brassica napus)

“…The normalized gene expression levels were determined with count information as FPKM (Fragments Per Kilobase of transcript per Million mapped reads). Expressed genes with FPKM ≥ 1 were used for the comparative analysis (Xie et al, 2022). Differential expression analysis was performed using the DESeq2 R package (v1.16.1) (Love et al, 2014).…”

Meta-QTL analysis and candidate genes identification for lodging resistance in maize: Ⅰ. stalk related traits

“…Lodging, a complex quantitative trait controlled by many genes, each with a small effect, affects maize plant physiological and molecular processes (Peiffer et al 2013). Identifying the genetic mechanisms that regulate lodging in maize, and mining these candidate genes, is important for the engineering of crops with improved lodging tolerance (Xue et al 2016;Xie et al 2022).…”