Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40021951›Full record

ArticleBMC plant biology2025

Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals potential regulatory genes involved in the development and strength formation of maize stalks.

Senan Cheng, Youhui Qi, Dusheng Lu, Yancui Wang, Xitong Xu, Deyun Zhu, Dijie Ma, Shuyun Wang, Cuixia Chen

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC plant biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Senan ChengCollege of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
Youhui QiCollege of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
Dusheng LuCollege of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
Yancui WangCollege of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
Xitong XuCollege of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
Deyun ZhuCollege of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
Dijie MaCollege of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
Shuyun WangCollege of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
Cuixia ChenCollege of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China. cxchen@sdau.edu.cn.

Funding

National Key R&D Program of China 2023YFD1200501National Natural Science Foundation of China 32370672
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStalk strength is a critical trait in maize that influences plant architecture, lodging resistance and grain yield. The developmental stage of maize, spanning from the vegetative stage to the reproductive stage, is critical for determining stalk strength. However, the dynamics of the genetic control of this trait remains unclear.

resultsHere, we report a temporal resolution study of the maize stalk transcriptome in one tropical line and one non-stiff-stalk line using 53 transcriptomes collected covering V7 (seventh leaf stage) through silking stage. The time-course transcriptomes were categorized into four phases corresponding to stalk early development, stalk early elongation, stalk late elongation, and stalk maturation. Fuzzy c-means clustering and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses elucidated the chronological sequence of events that occur at four phases of stalk development. Gene Ontology analysis suggests that active cell division occurs in the stalk during Phase I. During Phase II, processes such as cell wall extension, lignin deposition, and vascular cell development are active. In Phase III, lignin metabolic process, secondary cell wall biogenesis, xylan biosynthesis process, cell wall biogenesis, and polysaccharide biosynthetic process contribute to cell wall strengthening. Defense responses, abiotic stresses, and transport of necessary nutrients or substances are active engaged during Phase IV. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the two maize lines presented significant gene expression differences in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. Certain differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding transcription factors, especially those in the NAC and MYB families, may be involved in stalk development. In addition, six potential regulatory genes associated with stalk strength were identified through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA).

conclusionThe data set provides a high temporal-resolution atlas of gene expression during maize stalk development. These phase-specific genes, differentially expressed genes, and potential regulatory genes reported in this study provide important resources for further studies to elucidate the genetic control of stalk development and stalk strength formation in maize.

Indexed as

Genes, RegulatorPlant StemsTranscriptomeZea maysCell WallGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, PlantGenes, PlantLigninLigninMaizeRegulatory genesStalk developmentStalk strengthTranscriptome

Identifiers

PMID40021951
PMCPMC11871777

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