Creating a gene-indexed EMS mutation library of Zheng58 for improving maize genetics research

We created the Zheng58 EMS Mutation Library, which provides a valuable resource for future investigations into the functions and roles of specific genes in maize physiology and development. Understanding the genetic variations present within maize is fundamental to improving maize breeding programs and developing crops with desirable traits. In this work, the Gene-Indexed Ethyl Methanesulfonate (EMS) Mutation Library of Zheng58 in maize was created to accelerate maize genetics research. By chemically inducing mutations in the Zheng58 maize inbred line using (EMS), 426 M₂ EMS lines were generated, of which 185 exhibited heritable phenotypic changes. Coupling with high throughput sequencing techniques, over two million mutations, encompassing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and small insertions and deletions (InDels), were subsequently identified. Functional annotation of mutation sites further indicated that a significant number of mutations influences important cellular processes, including translation termination (8,279), splice site disruption leading to mis-splicing (9,504), and missense mutations affecting protein-coding sequences (52,494). Therefore, the Gene-Indexed EMS Mutation Library of maize Zheng58 provides a valuable resource for future investigations into the functions and roles of specific genes in maize physiology and development.