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Transcriptome Analysis Reveals POD as an Important Indicator for Assessing Low-Temperature Tolerance in Maize
Yifei Zhang1,2,3, Jiayu Li1, Weiqing Li1
1College of Agriculture, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 25, 2024
Summary
Low-temperature stress severely impacts maize seed germination and growth. This study identifies key gene expression changes and pathways, like phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, involved in maize low-temperature tolerance.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Molecular Biology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Low-temperature stress (TS) significantly hinders maize (Zea mays L.) seed germination and overall agricultural productivity.
- TS during germination inhibits radicle elongation, leading to seedling emergence issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze gene expression alterations in maize radicles under TS.
- To compare the responses of two major Northeast China maize cultivars, Demeiya1 (DMY1) and Zhengdan958 (ZD958), to low temperatures.
Main Methods:
- Maize seeds of DMY1 and ZD958 were subjected to two temperature conditions: 15 °C (control) and 5 °C (TS).
- Radicle growth, fresh/dry weights, proline, and malondialdehyde content were measured.
- Differential gene expression analysis was performed using RNA sequencing.
Main Results:
- TS significantly reduced radicle growth and biomass, while increasing proline and malondialdehyde levels in both cultivars.
- TS induced significant differential gene expression in DMY1 (5301 genes) and ZD958 (4894 genes), with 3005 common differentially expressed genes.
- The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was identified as a key player in the response to TS.
Conclusions:
- Peroxidase activity may serve as a crucial indicator for evaluating low-temperature tolerance in germinating maize.
- Peroxidase-encoding genes are potential candidates for enhancing low-temperature resistance in maize radicles.
- This research deepens the understanding of maize seed germination adaptation to TS and offers a basis for improving cold tolerance and germination performance.
