Transcriptome and co-expression network analyses of key genes and pathways associated with differential abscisic acid accumulation during maize seed maturation

• DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03751-1
• Publication Date: 2022-07-22T12:04:30Z
• Authors: Liangjie Niu; Cui Du; Wenrui Wang; Man Zhang; Wei Wang; Hui Liu; Jinghua Zhang; Xiaolin Wu
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 0303 health sciences; Differential expressed genes (DEGs); Research; Gene Expression Profiling; Botany; Zea mays; 03 medical and health sciences; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Seed maturation; QK1-989; Seeds; Abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis deficiency; Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA); Transcriptome; Abscisic Acid

Currently, mechanical maize kernel harvesting has not been fully utilized in developing countries including China, partly due to the absence of suitable cultivars capable rapid desiccation during seed maturation. The initiation maturation is regulated by abscisic acid (ABA). For further characterization ABA-regulated key genes and cellular events, it necessary perform transcriptome analysis embryos. ABA synthesis-deficient mutant (vp5) normal (Vp5) seeds are materials for such purpose.In present work, vp5 Vp5 embryos were compared content analyses. Quantitative revealed significant difference synthesis between both genotypes. From 29 days after pollination (DAP), increased rapidly embryos, but decreased gradually At 36 DAP, level 1/4 that Vp5, suggesting differential levels would affect Comparative transcriptomic found 1019 differentially expressed (DEGs) genotypes, with most DEGs (818) at DAP. Further, weighted correlation network (WGCNA) eight co-expression modules. Particularly, a module was negatively correlated mainly involved metabolic processes, its hub encoded thiamine, NPF proteins, calmodulin, metallothionein etc. Moreover, expression set verified RT-qPCR. results work suggested because deficiency, maintained strong activities lacked dormancy maturation.Transcriptome WGCNA analyses ABA-related changes pathways provide insights elucidating molecular mechanism signaling high dehydration tolerance harvesting.