A5108252958- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Wheat and Barley Genetics and Pathology
- Crop Yield and Soil Fertility
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Phytase and its Applications
- Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Food composition and properties
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Nitrogen and Sulfur Effects on Brassica
- Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
- Plant Genetic and Mutation Studies
- Plant Gene Expression Analysis
Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences
2016-2025
Chinese Academy of Sciences
2016-2025
Sichuan Agricultural University
2023-2024
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
2023
Shanghai Normal University
2023
Henan Agricultural University
2023
Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences
2002-2021
Beijing Forestry University
2021
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
2009-2017
Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology
2015
Grain starch and protein are synthesized during endosperm development, prompting the question of what regulatory mechanism underlies synchronization accumulation secondary primary gene products. We found that two endosperm-specific NAC transcription factors, ZmNAC128 ZmNAC130, have such a function. Knockdown expression ZmNAC130 with RNA interference (RNAi) caused shrunken kernel phenotype significant reduction protein. could show regulate Bt2 then reduce its level, rate-limiting step in...
Members of the aquatic monocot family Lemnaceae (commonly called duckweeds) represent smallest and fastest growing flowering plants. Their highly reduced morphology infrequent result in a dearth characters for distinguishing between nearly 38 species that exhibit these tiny, closely-related often morphologically similar features within same plants.We developed simple rapid DNA-based molecular identification system based on sequence polymorphisms. We compared barcoding potential seven...
Significance Nutritional quality and yield are equally important considerations in crop breeding, although they sometimes appear at odds. In this work we made the discovery that these traits linked through regulation by two transcription factors. Mutations affect expression of factors can improve nutritional seed but also reduce kernel hardness. Therefore future corn-breeding programs should silence zein genes directly, not blocking
Essential amino acids like lysine and tryptophan are deficient in corn meal because of the abundance zein storage proteins that lack these acids. A natural mutant, opaque 2 ( o2 ) causes reduction zeins, an increase nonzein proteins, as a consequence, doubling levels. However, ’s soft inferior kernels precluded its commercial use. Breeders subsequently overcame kernel softness, selecting several quantitative loci (QTLs), called modifiers, without losing high-lysine trait. These maize lines...
Maize (Zea mays) zeins are some of the most abundant cereal seed storage proteins (SSPs). Their abundance influences kernel hardness but compromises its nutritional quality. Transcription factors regulating expression zein and other SSP genes in cereals endosperm-specific homologs maize opaque2 (O2) prolamine-box binding factor (PBF). This study demonstrates that ubiquitously expressed transcription factors, O2 heterodimerizing (OHPs), specifically regulate 27-kD γ-zein gene (through to an...
Maize (Zea mays) floury3 (fl3) is a classic semidominant negative mutant that exhibits severe defects in the endosperm but fl3 plants otherwise appear normal. We cloned gene and determined it encodes PLATZ (plant AT-rich sequence zinc binding) protein. The mutation resulted an Asn-to-His replacement conserved domain, creating dominant allele. Fl3 specifically expressed starchy cells regulated by genomic imprinting, which leads to suppressed expression of when transmitted through male,...
Abstract Grain filling in maize (Zea mays) is regulated by a group of spatiotemporally synchronized transcription factors (TFs), but the that coordinate their expression remain unknown. We used promoter grain filling-specific TF gene Opaque2 (O2) to screen upstream regulatory and identified B3 domain TF, ZmABI19, directly binds O2 for transactivation. zmabi19 mutants displayed developmental defects endosperm embryo, mature kernels were opaque reduced size. The accumulation zeins, starch...
Aquatic plants have to adapt the environments distinct from where land grow. A critical aspect of adaptation is dynamics sequence repeats, not resolved in older sequencing platforms due incomplete and fragmented genome assemblies short reads. Therefore, we used PacBio long-read Spirodela polyrhiza genome, reaching a 44-fold increase contiguity with an N50 (a median contig lengths) 831 kb filling 95.4% gaps left previous version. Reconstruction repeat regions indicates that sequentially...
Summary Pre‐harvest sprouting (PHS), the germination of grain before harvest, is a serious problem resulting in wheat yield and quality losses. Here, we mapped PHS resistance gene PHS‐3D from synthetic hexaploid to 2.4 Mb presence–absence variation (PAV) region found that its effect was attributed pleiotropic Myb10‐D by integrated omics functional analyses. Three haplotypes were detected this PAV among 262 worldwide lines 16 Aegilops tauschii , percentages containing approximately 40% lower...
Endosperm filling in maize (Zea mays), which involves nutrient uptake and biosynthesis of storage reserves, largely determines grain yield quality. However, much remains unclear about the synchronization these processes. Here, we comprehensively investigated functions duplicate NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC2 (NAC)-type transcription factors, namely, ZmNAC128 ZmNAC130, endosperm filling. The gene-edited double mutant zmnac128 zmnac130 exhibits a poorly filled kernel phenotype such that kernels have an...
Abstract Dent and flint kernel architectures are important characteristics that affect the physical properties of maize kernels their grain end uses. The genes controlling these traits unknown, so it is difficult to combine advantageous both. We found mutation ARFTF17 in a dent genetic background reduces IAA content seed pericarp, creating flint-like phenotype. highly expressed pericarp encodes protein interacts with inhibits MYB40, transcription factor dual functions repressing PIN1...
Abstract Opaque or nonvitreous phenotypes relate to the seed architecture of maize (Zea mays) and are linked loci that control accumulation proper deposition storage proteins, called zeins, into specialized organelles in endosperm, protein bodies. However, absence null mutants each type zein (i.e. α, β, γ, δ), molecular contribution these proteins remains unclear. Here, a double mutant for δ-zeins, 22-kD α-zein, β-zein, γ-zein RNA interference (RNAi; designated as z1CRNAi, βRNAi, γRNAi,...
Summary Starch is the most abundant storage carbohydrate in maize kernel. The content of amylose and amylopectin confers unique properties food processing industrial application. Thus, resurgent interest has been switched to study individual or rather than total starch, whereas enzymatic machinery for synthesis remains elusive. We took advantage phenotype genotype 9,007,194 single nucleotide polymorphisms from 464 inbred lines. genome‐wide association identified 27 associated loci involving...
Significance More than half a century ago, Oliver Nelson and Edwin Mertz at Purdue University found the maize opaque2 ( o2 ) mutation produces doubling of endosperm lysine content, creating foundation for quality protein (QPM) breeding. QPM has potential to benefit millions people in developing countries who consume as their sole source. However, breeding new hybrids takes longer regular hybrids, primarily because complex unknown components modification; this limited expansion worldwide. We...
Abstract Mutation of o2 doubles maize endosperm lysine content, but it causes an inferior kernel phenotype. Developing quality protein (QPM) by introgressing modifier s ( Mo2 s) into the mutant benefits millions people in developing countries where is a primary source. Here, we report genome sequence and annotation South African QPM line K0326Y, which assembled from single-molecule, real-time shotgun sequencing reads collinear with optical map. We achieve N50 contig length 7.7 million bases...
Summary The endosperm‐specific transcription factor Opaque2 (O2) acts as a central regulator for endosperm filling, but its functions have not been fully defined. Regular o2 mutants exhibit non‐vitreous phenotype, so we used vitreous variety Quality Protein Maize to create EMS‐mutagenesis screening enhancers ( oen ). A mutant oen1 ) restored non‐vitreousness and produced large cavity in the seed due severely depleted filling. When was introgressed into inbred W64A with normal O2 gene, seeds...
Abstract The mechanism that creates vitreous endosperm in the mature maize kernel is poorly understood. We identified Vitreous 1 ( Ven1 ) as a major QTL influencing this process. encodes β-carotene hydroxylase 3, an enzyme modulates carotenoid composition amyloplast envelope. A619 inbred contains nonfunctional allele, leading to decrease polar and increase non-polar carotenoids amyloplast. Coincidently, stability of membranes increased during desiccation. lipid cells altered, giving rise...
Opaque2 (O2) functions as a central regulator of the synthesis starch and storage proteins O2 gene is transcriptionally regulated by hub coordinator seed development grain filling, ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE 19 (ZmABI19), in maize (Zea mays). Here, we identified second coordinator, basic Leucine Zipper 29 (ZmbZIP29) that interacts with ZmABI19 to regulate expression. Like zmabi19, zmbzip29 mutations resulted dramatic decrease transcript protein levels thus significant reduction proteins....
Abstract Maize kernels are complex biological systems composed of three genetic sources, namely maternal tissues, progeny embryos, and endosperms. The lack gene expression profiles with spatial information has limited the understanding specific functions each cell population, hindered exploration superior genes in kernels. In our study, we conduct microscopic sectioning transcriptomics analysis during grain filling stage maize This enables us to visualize patterns all through electronical...