The B-type response regulator ZmRR5 controls maize kernel size by regulating BETL development
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the world’s most important staple crops, and is used for manufacturing food, feed, and industrial products. A key factor in maize yield is the grain weight, which directly influences productivity. In this study, we revealed the role of smk23 in maize kernel development....
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Crop Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221451412500087X |
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| author | Menglin Pu Bohui Wang Chao Zhou Youqiang Li Mingfei Sun Guangming Zheng Yuejia Zhang Jiawen Wu Jun Li Xiaofei He Zhiming Zhang Haiping Ding Xiansheng Zhang Xiangyu Zhao |
| author_facet | Menglin Pu Bohui Wang Chao Zhou Youqiang Li Mingfei Sun Guangming Zheng Yuejia Zhang Jiawen Wu Jun Li Xiaofei He Zhiming Zhang Haiping Ding Xiansheng Zhang Xiangyu Zhao |
| author_sort | Menglin Pu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the world’s most important staple crops, and is used for manufacturing food, feed, and industrial products. A key factor in maize yield is the grain weight, which directly influences productivity. In this study, we revealed the role of smk23 in maize kernel development. The ethyl methanesulfonate mutant smk23 is characterized by substantially reduced kernel weight. Through map-based cloning, smk23 was found to be located on Chr5 and encode a putative B-type response regulator, ZmRR5. A change from G to A occurs in the coding sequence of ZmRR5, resulting in the early termination of smk23. In Arabidopsis, B-type response regulators are involved in cytokinin signaling. Histological analysis and in situ hybridization of the mutant revealed abnormal endosperm development, particularly in the basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL), a specialized tissue critical for nutrient transport from the maternal tissues to the developing kernel. ZmRR5 positively regulates key genes involved in BETL development and function, including MRP1 and TCRR1. Furthermore, RNA sequencing revealed that several genes closely linked to BETL development, including BETL2, MEG1, and MN1, were significantly downregulated in smk23. These genes are essential for nutrient transport, tissue development and signal transduction. In addition, haploid analysis of ZmRR5 revealed natural variations (Hap 2) that may contribute to the increased kernel yield. Disruption of ZmRR5 function in smk23 leads to defects in BETL development, impairing its ability to transport nutrients, and ultimately resulting in a smaller kernel size. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms through which ZmRR5 regulates maize kernel development and offers potential strategies for improving grain yield. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ab0cd6b3bd2c49a1ba72ed7e11088e92 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-5141 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Crop Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-ab0cd6b3bd2c49a1ba72ed7e11088e922025-08-20T03:47:13ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Crop Journal2214-51412025-06-0113379280410.1016/j.cj.2025.03.008The B-type response regulator ZmRR5 controls maize kernel size by regulating BETL developmentMenglin Pu0Bohui Wang1Chao Zhou2Youqiang Li3Mingfei Sun4Guangming Zheng5Yuejia Zhang6Jiawen Wu7Jun Li8Xiaofei He9Zhiming Zhang10Haiping Ding11Xiansheng Zhang12Xiangyu Zhao13State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaCorresponding authors.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaCorresponding authors.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, ChinaMaize (Zea mays L.) is one of the world’s most important staple crops, and is used for manufacturing food, feed, and industrial products. A key factor in maize yield is the grain weight, which directly influences productivity. In this study, we revealed the role of smk23 in maize kernel development. The ethyl methanesulfonate mutant smk23 is characterized by substantially reduced kernel weight. Through map-based cloning, smk23 was found to be located on Chr5 and encode a putative B-type response regulator, ZmRR5. A change from G to A occurs in the coding sequence of ZmRR5, resulting in the early termination of smk23. In Arabidopsis, B-type response regulators are involved in cytokinin signaling. Histological analysis and in situ hybridization of the mutant revealed abnormal endosperm development, particularly in the basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL), a specialized tissue critical for nutrient transport from the maternal tissues to the developing kernel. ZmRR5 positively regulates key genes involved in BETL development and function, including MRP1 and TCRR1. Furthermore, RNA sequencing revealed that several genes closely linked to BETL development, including BETL2, MEG1, and MN1, were significantly downregulated in smk23. These genes are essential for nutrient transport, tissue development and signal transduction. In addition, haploid analysis of ZmRR5 revealed natural variations (Hap 2) that may contribute to the increased kernel yield. Disruption of ZmRR5 function in smk23 leads to defects in BETL development, impairing its ability to transport nutrients, and ultimately resulting in a smaller kernel size. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms through which ZmRR5 regulates maize kernel development and offers potential strategies for improving grain yield.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221451412500087XMaize yieldCytokinin B-type response regulatorEndospermBETL |
| spellingShingle | Menglin Pu Bohui Wang Chao Zhou Youqiang Li Mingfei Sun Guangming Zheng Yuejia Zhang Jiawen Wu Jun Li Xiaofei He Zhiming Zhang Haiping Ding Xiansheng Zhang Xiangyu Zhao The B-type response regulator ZmRR5 controls maize kernel size by regulating BETL development Crop Journal Maize yield Cytokinin B-type response regulator Endosperm BETL |
| title | The B-type response regulator ZmRR5 controls maize kernel size by regulating BETL development |
| title_full | The B-type response regulator ZmRR5 controls maize kernel size by regulating BETL development |
| title_fullStr | The B-type response regulator ZmRR5 controls maize kernel size by regulating BETL development |
| title_full_unstemmed | The B-type response regulator ZmRR5 controls maize kernel size by regulating BETL development |
| title_short | The B-type response regulator ZmRR5 controls maize kernel size by regulating BETL development |
| title_sort | b type response regulator zmrr5 controls maize kernel size by regulating betl development |
| topic | Maize yield Cytokinin B-type response regulator Endosperm BETL |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221451412500087X |
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