Transcriptome dynamic landscape underlying the improvement of maize lodging resistance under coronatine treatment

Abstract

Background Lodging is one of the important factors causing maize yield. Plant height is an important factor in determining plant architecture in maize (Zea mays L.), which is closely related to lodging resistance under high planting density. Coronatine (COR), which is a phytotoxin and produced by the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, is a functional and structural analogue of jasmonic acid (JA). Results In this study, we found COR, as a new plant growth regulator, could effectively reduce plant height and ear height of both hybrids (ZD958 and XY335) and inbred (B73) maize by inhibiting internode growth during elongation, thus improve maize lodging resistance. To study gene expression changes in internode after COR treatment, we collected spatio-temporal transcriptome of inbred B73 internode under normal condition and COR treatment, including the three different regions of internode (fixed, meristem and elongation regions) at three different developmental stages. The gene expression levels of the three regions at normal condition were described and then compared with that upon COR treatment. In total, 8605 COR-responsive genes (COR-RGs) were found, consist of 802 genes specifically expressed in internode. For these COR-RGs, 614, 870, 2123 of which showed expression changes in only fixed, meristem and elongation region, respectively. Both the number and function were significantly changed for COR-RGs identified in different regions, indicating genes with different functions were regulated at the three regions. Besides, we found more than 80% genes of gibberellin and jasmonic acid were changed under COR treatment. Conclusions These data provide a gene expression profiling in different regions of internode development and molecular mechanism of COR affecting internode elongation. A putative schematic of the internode response to COR treatment is proposed which shows the basic process of COR affecting internode elongation. This research provides a useful resource for studying maize internode development and improves our understanding of the COR regulation mechanism based on plant height.

Integration of transcriptome and metabolome analyses reveals key lodging-resistance-related genes and metabolic pathways in maize

“…For instance, a set of genes influence plant height by regulating gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis and transport, including dwarf1, dwarf3, dwarf plant 8, and dwarf plant 9 ( Spray et al, 1996 ; Sakamoto et al, 2004 ; Cui et al, 2012 ) . Studies have also revealed that jasmonic acid (JA) can affect plant height via complex phytohormone crosstalk with GA and auxin ( Ren et al, 2021 ) . Furthermore, NAC transcription factors were shown to enhance maize stalk lodging resistance by directly regulating genes involved in cell wall biosynthesis ( Ren et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Compared to traditional sequencing methods, RNA-seq technologies offer several key advantages, such as low cost, high throughput, and high sensitivity. Furthermore, RNA-Seq provides us convenience in detecting transcriptomic changes under certain environments and enables us to identify gene expression profiles in a specific manner ( Ren et al, 2021 ). Meanwhile, metabolomic profiling is being used to detect the differential abundance of metabolites at a global level and also provides useful contributions to molecular genetics studies ( Zhao et al, 2019 ).…”

Genome-Wide Identification of Gramineae Brassinosteroid-Related Genes and Their Roles in Plant Architecture and Salt Stress Adaptation

“…Among these genes, ZmBZR1 showed the highest expression level ( Figure 3 c). Coronatine (COR), a functional and structural analog of jasmonic acid (JA), can improve maize lodging resistance by inhibiting ninth internode elongation [ 23 ]. The meristem (M, basal 0–1 cm between internode) and elongation regions (E, basal 1–2 cm between internode) of the ninth internode were collected for RNA-seq.…”

Coronatine-Based Gene Expression Changes Impart Partial Resistance to Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Seedling Maize

“…RNA extraction and library preparing proceeded according to the method of Ren et al [ 21 ]. Total RNA was extracted using Trizol (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) based on the manual.…”

“…Recent studies have shown that COR can regulate maize morphogenesis and promote maize growth at the seedling stage [ 20 ]. It can also improve lodging resistance and enhance maize resistance to low temperature and drought [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. However, it has not been reported that COR can improve pest resistance of maize at the seedling stage.…”