Functional characterization of maize phytochrome-interacting factor 3 (ZmPIF3) in enhancing salt tolerance in arabidopsis.

Soil salinization, a prevalent form of environmental stress, leads to significant soil desertification and impacts agricultural productivity by altering the internal soil environment, slowing cellular metabolism, and modifying cellular architecture. This results in a marked reduction in both the yield and diversity of crops. Maize, which is particularly susceptible to salt stress, serves as a critical model for studying these effects, making the elucidation of its molecular responses essential for crop improvement strategies.

Identification of miRNAs and their target genes associated with improved maize seed vigor induced by gibberellin.

High seed vigor is crucial for agricultural production owing to its potential in high quality and yield of crops and a better understanding of the molecular mechanism associated with maize seed vigor is highly necessary. To better understand the involvement and regulatory mechanism of miRNAs correlated with maize seed vigor, small RNAs and degradome sequencing of two inbred lines Yu537A and Yu82 were performed. A total of 791 mature miRNAs were obtained with different expressions, among of which 505 miRNAs were newly identified and the rest miRNAs have been reported before by comparing the miRNAs with the sequences in miRbase database.

A Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus Replication Curve Model to Evaluate Maize Rough Dwarf Disease Resistance.

Resistance to maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD), a major cause of crop losses, depends on external conditions such as the virus transmission period and the rate of viruliferous small brown planthoppers, . The precise identification of MRDD contributes to the utilization of resistant germplasm and the cloning of resistant genes. In this study, eight maize varieties were artificially inoculated in a greenhouse with viruliferous planthoppers.

Comprehensive dynamic transcriptome analysis at two seed germination stages in maize (Zea mays L.).

Seed germination, as an integral stage of crop production, directly affects Zea mays (maize) yield and grain quality. However, the molecular mechanisms of seed germination remain unclear in maize. We performed comparative transcriptome analysis of two maize inbred lines, Yu82 and Yu537A, at two stages of seed germination.

Comparative proteomic analysis of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings under rice black-streaked dwarf virus infection.

Background: Maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD) is a severe disease that has been occurring frequently in southern China and many other Asian countries. MRDD is caused by the infection of Rice black streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) and leads to significant economic losses in maize production. To well understand the destructive effects of RBSDV infection on maize growth, comparative proteomic analyses of maize seedlings under RBSDV infection was performed using an integrated approach involving LC-MS/MS and Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) labeling.

Transcriptome Analysis of Cadmium-Treated Roots in Maize (Zea mays L.).

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal and is highly toxic to all plant species. However, the underlying molecular mechanism controlling the effects of auxin on the Cd stress response in maize is largely unknown. In this study, the transcriptome produced by maize 'Zheng 58' root responses to Cd stress was sequenced using Illumina sequencing technology.

Genetic analysis and major quantitative trait locus mapping of leaf widths at different positions in multiple populations.

Background: Leaf width is an important agricultural trait in maize. Leaf development is dependent on cell proliferation and expansion, and these processes exhibit polarity with respect to the longitudinal and transverse axes of the leaf. However, the molecular mechanism of the genetic control of seed vigor remains unknown in maize, and a better understanding of this mechanism is required.

Identification and comparative analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs in leaves of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes during dehydration stress.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in the processes of plant growth and development, but little is known of their functions during dehydration stress in wheat. Moreover, the mechanisms by which miRNAs confer different levels of dehydration stress tolerance in different wheat genotypes are unclear.

Results: We examined miRNA expressions in two different wheat genotypes, Hanxuan10, which is drought-tolerant, and Zhengyin1, which is drought-susceptible.

Dissection of the genetic architecture underlying the plant density response by mapping plant height-related traits in maize (Zea mays L.).

Plant height is one of the most heritable traits in maize (Zea mays L.). Understanding the genetic control of plant height is important for elucidating the molecular mechanisms that regulate maize development.

Modification of indium tin oxide with persulfate-based photochemistry toward facile, rapid, and low-temperature interface-mediated multicomponent assembling.

The well-controlled material assembly and patterning on indium tin oxide (ITO) coating layer is of great importance for the practical fabrication of a functional device. Nonetheless, the conventional way to achieve this aim is still mainly based on the combination of photolithography with pattern transfer techniques (e.g.

QTLs for seed vigor-related traits identified in maize seeds germinated under artificial aging conditions.

High seed vigor is important for agricultural production due to the associated potential for increased growth and productivity. However, a better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms is required because the genetic basis for seed vigor remains unknown. We used single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for four seed vigor traits in two connected recombinant inbred line (RIL) maize populations under four treatment conditions during seed germination.

Cloning and characterization of a putative TAC1 ortholog associated with leaf angle in maize (Zea mays L.).

Background: Modifying plant architecture to increase photosynthesis efficiency and reduce shade avoidance response is very important for further yield improvement when crops are grown in high density. Identification of alleles controlling leaf angle in maize is needed to provide insight into molecular mechanism of leaf development and achieving ideal plant architecture to improve grain yield.

Methodology/principal Findings: The gene cloning was done by using comparative genomics, and then performing real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis to assay gene expression.