Cold-Tolerance Candidate Gene Identification in Maize Germination Using BSA, Transcriptome and Metabolome Profiling

Exploring the characteristics of maize’s tolerance to low-temperature stress is of great significance for enhancing maize’s adaptability to such stress and for developing valuable germplasm resources. In this study, a combined analysis of genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics was conducted on...

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Main Authors: Cheng Wang, Nan Hao, Yueming Li, Nan Sun, Liwei Wang, Yusheng Ye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1067
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author Cheng Wang
Nan Hao
Yueming Li
Nan Sun
Liwei Wang
Yusheng Ye
author_facet Cheng Wang
Nan Hao
Yueming Li
Nan Sun
Liwei Wang
Yusheng Ye
author_sort Cheng Wang
collection DOAJ
description Exploring the characteristics of maize’s tolerance to low-temperature stress is of great significance for enhancing maize’s adaptability to such stress and for developing valuable germplasm resources. In this study, a combined analysis of genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics was conducted on maize 245 F7 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) to screen for candidate genes and differential metabolites controlling the cold tolerance of maize during the germination stage. Bulked segregant analysis-sequencing (BSA-seq) located four candidate regions on chromosome 1 (<i>qSGRL1-2</i>, <i>qSGRL1-3</i>, and <i>qSGRL1-4</i>) and chromosome 10 (<i>qSGRL10</i>), which altogether contained 109 candidate genes. Combined with the transcriptome sequencing results, among the genes screened by quantitative trait locus sequencing (QTL-seq), seven genes (<i>Zm00001eb043000</i>, <i>Zm00001eb043620</i>, <i>Zm00001eb043650</i>, <i>Zm00001eb043680</i>, <i>Zm00001eb043720</i>, <i>Zm00001eb043400</i>, and <i>Zm00001eb043490</i>) were identified as common candidate genes related to the cold tolerance of maize during the germination stage. Combined with the metabolomic analysis results, low-temperature stress induced the differential expression of relevant genes, leading to the differential accumulation of metabolites such as L-glutamic acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, and Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). These results enrich the information for molecular marker-assisted selection of maize tolerance to low-temperature stress and provide genetic resources for the maize varieties breeding.
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spelling doaj-art-1d370018495f4dafacd073d05c021f122025-08-20T02:33:43ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-04-01155106710.3390/agronomy15051067Cold-Tolerance Candidate Gene Identification in Maize Germination Using BSA, Transcriptome and Metabolome ProfilingCheng Wang0Nan Hao1Yueming Li2Nan Sun3Liwei Wang4Yusheng Ye5State Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-Breeding, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-Breeding, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-Breeding, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-Breeding, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-Breeding, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, ChinaExploring the characteristics of maize’s tolerance to low-temperature stress is of great significance for enhancing maize’s adaptability to such stress and for developing valuable germplasm resources. In this study, a combined analysis of genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics was conducted on maize 245 F7 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) to screen for candidate genes and differential metabolites controlling the cold tolerance of maize during the germination stage. Bulked segregant analysis-sequencing (BSA-seq) located four candidate regions on chromosome 1 (<i>qSGRL1-2</i>, <i>qSGRL1-3</i>, and <i>qSGRL1-4</i>) and chromosome 10 (<i>qSGRL10</i>), which altogether contained 109 candidate genes. Combined with the transcriptome sequencing results, among the genes screened by quantitative trait locus sequencing (QTL-seq), seven genes (<i>Zm00001eb043000</i>, <i>Zm00001eb043620</i>, <i>Zm00001eb043650</i>, <i>Zm00001eb043680</i>, <i>Zm00001eb043720</i>, <i>Zm00001eb043400</i>, and <i>Zm00001eb043490</i>) were identified as common candidate genes related to the cold tolerance of maize during the germination stage. Combined with the metabolomic analysis results, low-temperature stress induced the differential expression of relevant genes, leading to the differential accumulation of metabolites such as L-glutamic acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, and Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). These results enrich the information for molecular marker-assisted selection of maize tolerance to low-temperature stress and provide genetic resources for the maize varieties breeding.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1067maizecold tolerancebulk segregant analysis sequencingquantitative trait locitranscriptomicsmetabolomics
spellingShingle Cheng Wang
Nan Hao
Yueming Li
Nan Sun
Liwei Wang
Yusheng Ye
Cold-Tolerance Candidate Gene Identification in Maize Germination Using BSA, Transcriptome and Metabolome Profiling
Agronomy
maize
cold tolerance
bulk segregant analysis sequencing
quantitative trait loci
transcriptomics
metabolomics
title Cold-Tolerance Candidate Gene Identification in Maize Germination Using BSA, Transcriptome and Metabolome Profiling
title_full Cold-Tolerance Candidate Gene Identification in Maize Germination Using BSA, Transcriptome and Metabolome Profiling
title_fullStr Cold-Tolerance Candidate Gene Identification in Maize Germination Using BSA, Transcriptome and Metabolome Profiling
title_full_unstemmed Cold-Tolerance Candidate Gene Identification in Maize Germination Using BSA, Transcriptome and Metabolome Profiling
title_short Cold-Tolerance Candidate Gene Identification in Maize Germination Using BSA, Transcriptome and Metabolome Profiling
title_sort cold tolerance candidate gene identification in maize germination using bsa transcriptome and metabolome profiling
topic maize
cold tolerance
bulk segregant analysis sequencing
quantitative trait loci
transcriptomics
metabolomics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1067
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AT yuemingli coldtolerancecandidategeneidentificationinmaizegerminationusingbsatranscriptomeandmetabolomeprofiling
AT nansun coldtolerancecandidategeneidentificationinmaizegerminationusingbsatranscriptomeandmetabolomeprofiling
AT liweiwang coldtolerancecandidategeneidentificationinmaizegerminationusingbsatranscriptomeandmetabolomeprofiling
AT yushengye coldtolerancecandidategeneidentificationinmaizegerminationusingbsatranscriptomeandmetabolomeprofiling