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Imaging and Analysis for Quantifying Maize (Zea mays) Abiotic Stress Phenotypes
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Proteomic changes may lead to yield alteration in maize under carbon dioxide enriched condition
Vivek K Maurya1,2, Sunil K Gupta1, Marisha Sharma1
11Plant Ecology and Climate Change Science Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
3 Biotech
|April 25, 2020
Summary
Elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) impacts maize varieties differently. One variety showed enhanced growth and yield due to specific protein expression, while the other had average results under elevated CO2 conditions.
Area of Science:
- Plant science
- Agricultural science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels present challenges and opportunities for crop production.
- Understanding plant responses to elevated CO2 is crucial for food security and climate change adaptation.
- Maize (Zea mays L.) is a vital global crop, and its performance under future atmospheric conditions requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential effects of elevated CO2 on the growth, physiology, yield, and leaf proteome of two maize varieties.
- To identify molecular mechanisms underlying varied responses to Free-air CO2 enrichment (eCO2) in maize.
- To compare the performance of PEHM-5 and SMH-3031 maize varieties under eCO2 conditions.
Main Methods:
- Two maize varieties (PEHM-5 and SMH-3031) were grown under Free-air CO2 enrichment (eCO2) conditions (530 ppm).
- Physiological parameters, growth, yield components (biomass, seed number, seed weight, seed size), and pigment content were measured.
- Leaf proteome analysis was conducted to identify differentially abundant proteins in response to eCO2.
Main Results:
- Elevated CO2 did not significantly alter photosynthesis or pigment content in either maize variety.
- PEHM-5 exhibited greater biomass accumulation, seed starch, soluble sugar, and thousand seed weight compared to SMH-3031 under eCO2.
- Leaf proteomic analysis revealed higher abundance of proteins related to the Calvin cycle, protein synthesis, defense, and redox homeostasis in PEHM-5, correlating with its superior growth and yield.
- SMH-3031 showed increased seed number per cob but decreased thousand seed weight, with lower abundance of key proteins in response to eCO2.
Conclusions:
- Maize varieties display differential responses to elevated CO2, impacting growth and yield.
- PEHM-5 demonstrates enhanced adaptation to eCO2, attributed to specific proteomic profiles supporting growth and yield.
- Understanding these varietal differences and underlying molecular mechanisms is essential for breeding climate-resilient maize.
