ZmGDIα-hel counters the RBSDV-induced reduction of active gibberellins to alleviate maize rough dwarf virus disease.

Maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD) threatens maize production globally. The P7-1 effector of the rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) targets maize Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor alpha (ZmGDIα) to cause MRDD. However, P7-1 has difficulty recruiting a ZmGDIα variant with an alternative helitron-derived exon 10 (ZmGDIα-hel), resulting in recessive resistance.

Fine mapping and functional validation of the maize nicosulfuron-resistance gene .

Nicosulfuron, a widely utilized herbicide, is detrimental to some maize varieties due to their sensitivity. Developing tolerant varieties with resistance genes is an economical and effective way to alleviate phytotoxicity. In this study, map-based cloning revealed that the maize resistance gene to nicosulfuron is (), which encodes a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase.

Identification of Gene Variation Involved in Regulating Maize Brittleness.

Maize stalk strength is a crucial agronomic trait that affects lodging resistance. We used map-based cloning and allelic tests to identify a maize mutant associated with decreased stalk strength and confirmed that the mutated gene, , is a homolog of , which encodes a COBRA-like glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein. The mutant exhibited lower cellulose content and whole-plant brittleness.

A Maize Caused by Defect of Coproporphyrinogen III Oxidase in the Porphyrin Pathway.

Lesion mimic mutants provide ideal genetic materials for elucidating the molecular mechanism of cell death and disease resistance. The maize () is a recessive mutant with necrotic spots and yellow-green leaves. In this study, we found that was a light and temperature-dependent mutant.

PPR647 Protein Is Required for Chloroplast RNA Editing, Splicing and Chloroplast Development in Maize.

Chloroplasts play an essential role in plant growth and development. Any factors affecting chloroplast development will lead to abnormal plant growth. Here, we characterized a new maize mutant, (), which exhibits an entirely albino phenotype in leaves and eventually died before the three-leaf stage.

qMrdd2, a novel quantitative resistance locus for maize rough dwarf disease.

Background: Maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD), a widespread disease caused by four pathogenic viruses, severely reduces maize yield and grain quality. Resistance against MRDD is a complex trait that controlled by many quantitative trait loci (QTL) and easily influenced by environmental conditions. So far, many studies have reported numbers of resistant QTL, however, only one QTL have been cloned, so it is especially important to map and clone more genes that confer resistance to MRDD.

Maize Plant Architecture Is Regulated by the Ethylene Biosynthetic Gene .

Plant height and leaf angle are two crucial determinants of plant architecture in maize () and are closely related to lodging resistance and canopy photosynthesis at high planting density. These two traits are primarily regulated by several phytohormones. However, the mechanism of ethylene in regulating plant architecture in maize, especially plant height and leaf angle, is unclear.

Genetic dissection of grain water content and dehydration rate related to mechanical harvest in maize.

Background: The low grain water content (GWC) at harvest is a prerequisite to mechanical harvesting in maize, or otherwise would cause massive broken kernels and increase drying costs. The GWC at harvest in turn depends on GWC at the physiological maturity (PM) stage and grain dehydration rate (GDR). Both GWC and GDR are very complex traits, governed by multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL) and easily influenced by environmental conditions.

A helitron-induced RabGDIα variant causes quantitative recessive resistance to maize rough dwarf disease.

Maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD), caused by various species of the genus Fijivirus, threatens maize production worldwide. We previously identified a quantitative locus qMrdd1 conferring recessive resistance to one causal species, rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV). Here, we show that Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor alpha (RabGDIα) is the host susceptibility factor for RBSDV.

Identification and characterization analysis of sulfotransferases (SOTs) gene family in cotton (Gossypium) and its involvement in fiber development.

Background: Sulfotransferases (SOTs) (EC 2.8.2.

Genome-wide identification and analysis of heterotic loci in three maize hybrids.

Heterosis, or hybrid vigour, is a predominant phenomenon in plant genetics, serving as the basis of crop hybrid breeding, but the causative loci and genes underlying heterosis remain unclear in many crops. Here, we present a large-scale genetic analysis using 5360 offsprings from three elite maize hybrids, which identifies 628 loci underlying 19 yield-related traits with relatively high mapping resolutions. Heterotic pattern investigations of the 628 loci show that numerous loci, mostly with complete-incomplete dominance (the major one) or overdominance effects (the secondary one) for heterozygous genotypes and nearly equal proportion of advantageous alleles from both parental lines, are the major causes of strong heterosis in these hybrids.

Mapping and Functional Analysis of a Maize Silkless Mutant .

The maize () stigma, which is commonly known as silk, is indispensable for reproduction and thus for grain yield. Here, we isolated a spontaneous mutant , which completely lacks silk; scanning electron microscopy showed that the pistils degenerated during late floret differentiation. Genetic analysis confirmed that this trait was controlled by a recessive nuclear gene and was mapped to a 74.

Evaluation of ZmCCT haplotypes for genetic improvement of maize hybrids.

The elite ZmCCT haplotypes which have no transposable element in the promoter could enhance maize resistance to Gibberella stalk rot and improve yield-related traits, while having no or mild impact on flowering time. Therefore, they are expected to have great value in future maize breeding programs. A CCT domain-containing gene, ZmCCT, is involved in both photoperiod response and stalk rot resistance in maize.

Genetic regulation of maize flower development and sex determination.

The determining process of pistil fate are central to maize sex determination, mainly regulated by a genetic network in which the sex-determining genes SILKLESS 1 , TASSEL SEED 1 , TASSEL SEED 2 and the paramutagenic locus Required to maintain repression 6 play pivotal roles. Maize silks, which emerge from the ear shoot and derived from the pistil, are the functional stigmas of female flowers and play a pivotal role in pollination. Previous studies on sex-related mutants have revealed that sex-determining genes and phytohormones play an important role in the regulation of flower organogenesis.

Identification and fine-mapping of a QTL, qMrdd1, that confers recessive resistance to maize rough dwarf disease.

Background: Maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD) is a devastating viral disease that results in considerable yield losses worldwide. Three major strains of virus cause MRDD, including maize rough dwarf virus in Europe, Mal de Río Cuarto virus in South America, and rice black-streaked dwarf virus in East Asia. These viral pathogens belong to the genus fijivirus in the family Reoviridae.

Genetic structure of rice black-streaked dwarf virus populations in China.

Rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus belonging to the genus Fijivirus in the family Reoviridae. The genome of RBSDV consists of ten dsRNA segments. Although RBSDV has caused significant economic losses to rice and maize production in the past few years in China, its molecular diversity and evolution remain largely unknown.

Characterization and fine mapping of a necrotic leaf mutant in maize (Zea mays L.).

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a commercially important crop. Its yield can be reduced by mutations in biosynthetic and degradative pathways that cause death.

Molecular characterization of segments S7 to S10 of a southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus isolate from maize in northern China.

Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) is a novel Fijivirus prevalent in rice in southern and central China, and northern Vietnam. Its genome has 10 segments of double-stranded RNA named S1 to S10 according to their size. An isolate of SRBSDV, JNi4, was obtained from naturally infected maize plants from Ji'ning, Shandong province, in the 2008 maize season.