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Updated: Jul 16, 2025
High-throughput, Microscale Protocol for the Analysis of Processing Parameters and Nutritional Qualities in Maize Zea mays L.
Published on: June 16, 2018
Molecular mechanisms controlling grain size and weight and their biotechnological breeding applications in maize and
Yan Long1, Cheng Wang2, Chang Liu2
1Research Institute of Biology and Agriculture, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; Industry Research Institute of Biotechnology Breeding, Yili Normal University, Yining 835000, China; Beijing Engineering Laboratory of Main Crop Bio-Tech Breeding, Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Bio-Tech Breeding, Zhongzhi International Institute of Agricultural Biosciences, Beijing 100192, China.
Background:
Cereal crops are a primary energy source for humans. Grain size and weight affect both evolutionary fitness and grain yield of cereals. Although studies on gene mining and molecular mechanisms controlling grain size and weight are constantly emerging in cereal crops, only a few systematic reviews on the underlying molecular mechanisms and their breeding applications are available so far.
Aim Of Review:
This review provides a general state-of-the-art overview of molecular mechanisms and targeted strategies for improving grain size and weight of cereals as well as insights for future yield-improving biotechnology-assisted breeding.
Key Scientific Concepts Of Review:
In this review, the evolution of research on grain size and weight over the last 20 years is traced based on a bibliometric analysis of 1158 publications and the main signaling pathways and transcriptional factors involved are summarized. In addition, the roles of post-transcriptional regulation and photosynthetic product accumulation affecting grain size and weight in maize and rice are outlined. State-of-the-art strategies for discovering novel genes related to grain size and weight in maize and other cereal crops as well as advanced breeding biotechnology strategies being used for improving yield including marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, transgenic breeding, and genome editing are also discussed.
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