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Published on: July 23, 2014
The E3 Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase ZmBOIR3 Is a Key Regulator of Low-Temperature Tolerance in Maize Seedlings
Qingyu Xu1, Yingli Sun1, Hongchen Du1
1Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Engineering Technology Research Center of Maize Germplasm Resources Innovation on Cold Land of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China.
Abstract:
Low-temperature stress seriously affects the growth and development of maize seedlings, endangering their quality and yield. In this study, the low-temperature tolerance at the seedling stage of 299 maize inbred lines was evaluated by using the membership function method. A genome-wide association study identified 12 SNPs associated with low-temperature tolerance. By integrating GWAS, RNA-seq, and metabolomics data, we identified a gene ZmBOIR3 encoding an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. Its involvement in low-temperature tolerance during seedling development was further supported by the RT-qPCR analysis. ZmBOIR3 may regulate the accumulation of secondary metabolites, influencing the plant hormone and membrane-associated signaling. Functional evidence from the ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) mutant zmboir3 showed markedly reduced tolerance to low-temperature stress. ZmBOIR3 acts in synergy with ZmMYB147 and may be involved in the regulation of low-temperature tolerance in maize seedlings. These support its role in promoting seedling adaptation and deepen the current understanding of cold response pathways in maize.
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