Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38431291›Full record

ArticlePlant physiology2024

Natural polymorphisms in ZMET2 encoding a DNA methyltransferase modulate the number of husk layers in maize.

Zi Wang, Aiai Xia, Qi Wang, Zhenhai Cui, Ming Lu, Yusheng Ye, Yanbo Wang, Yan He

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Plant physiology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
5.4field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Epigenetics in the modern era of crop improvements.Science China. Life sciences · 2025
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Zi WangState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China.ORCID 0000-0002-5423-7885
Aiai XiaState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0922-5313
Qi WangState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China.ORCID 0000-0002-0706-1688
Zhenhai CuiShenyang Key Laboratory of Maize Genomic Selection Breeding, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China.
Ming LuMaize Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling 136100, China.ORCID 0009-0003-2891-6010
Yusheng YeMaize Research Institute, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110065, China.ORCID 0009-0008-1162-9978
Yanbo WangMaize Research Institute, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110065, China.ORCID 0009-0001-1668-0069
Yan HeState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China.ORCID 0000-0003-3640-8502
China Agricultural University · CNLiaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences · CNJilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences · CNShenyang Agricultural University · CN

Funding

Key Science and Technology Project of Liaoning Province 2022JH1/10200001National Key Research and Development Program of China 2021YFD1201003
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

DNA methylation affects agronomic traits and the environmental adaptability of crops, but the natural polymorphisms in DNA methylation-related genes and their contributions to phenotypic variation in maize (Zea mays) remain elusive. Here, we show that a polymorphic 10-bp insertion/deletion variant in the 3'UTR of Zea methyltransferase2 (ZMET2) alters its transcript level and accounts for variation in the number of maize husk layers. ZMET2 encodes a chromomethylase and is required for maintaining genome-wide DNA methylation in the CHG sequence context. Disruption of ZMET2 increased the number of husk layers and resulted in thousands of differentially methylated regions, a proportion of which were also distinguishable in natural ZMET2 alleles. Population genetic analyses indicated that ZMET2 was a target of selection and might play a role in the spread of maize from tropical to temperate regions. Our results provide important insights into the natural variation of ZMET2 that confers both global and locus-specific effects on DNA methylation, which contribute to phenotypic diversity in maize.

Indexed as

DNA MethylationPlant ProteinsPolymorphism, GeneticZea maysAllelesDNA (Cytosine-5-)-MethyltransferasesGene Expression Regulation, PlantchromomethylaseDNA (Cytosine-5-)-MethyltransferasesPlant Proteins

Identifiers

PMID38431291
PMCPMC11213254
OpenAlexW4392757623

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.