An efficient virus‐induced gene silencing vector for maize functional genomics research

• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13142
• Publication Date: 2016-02-27T13:17:36Z
• Authors: Rong Wang; Xinxin Yang; Nian Wang; Xuedong Liu; Richard S. Nelson; Weimin Li; Zaifeng Fan; Tao Zhou
• Keywords: Functional Genomics

Summary Maize is a major crop whose rich genetic diversity provides an advanced resource for research. However, tool rapid transient gene function analysis in maize that may be utilized most cultivars has been lacking, resulting reliance on time‐consuming stable transformation and mutation studies to obtain answers. We developed efficient virus‐induced silencing ( VIGS ) vector based naturally maize‐infecting cucumber mosaic virus CMV strain, ZMBJ ‐ . An infectious clone of was constructed, vascular puncture inoculation method utilizing Agrobacterium optimized improve its utility infection maize. then modified as vector. The induced mild moderate symptoms many lines, making it useful critically important cultivars, such the sequenced reference inbred line B73. Using this system, expression two endogenous genes, Zm PDS ZmIspH , found decreased by 75% 78%, respectively, compared with non‐silenced tissue. Inserts lengths 100–300 bp produced complete transcriptional visual phenotypes. Moreover, genes related autophagy, ATG 3 8a were also silenced, they leaf starch degradation. These results indicate our