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Natural variation in a type-A response regulator confers maize chilling tolerance

Author

Listed:
  • Rong Zeng

    (Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University)

  • Zhuoyang Li

    (Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University)

  • Yiting Shi

    (Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University)

  • Diyi Fu

    (Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University)

  • Pan Yin

    (Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University)

  • Jinkui Cheng

    (Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University)

  • Caifu Jiang

    (Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University)

  • Shuhua Yang

    (Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University)

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a cold-sensitive species that often faces chilling stress, which adversely affects growth and reproduction. However, the genetic basis of low-temperature adaptation in maize remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that natural variation in the type-A Response Regulator 1 (ZmRR1) gene leads to differences in chilling tolerance among maize inbred lines. Association analysis reveals that InDel-35 of ZmRR1, encoding a protein harboring a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MPK) phosphorylation residue, is strongly associated with chilling tolerance. ZmMPK8, a negative regulator of chilling tolerance, interacts with and phosphorylates ZmRR1 at Ser15. The deletion of a 45-bp region of ZmRR1 harboring Ser15 inhibits its degradation via the 26 S proteasome pathway by preventing its phosphorylation by ZmMPK8. Transcriptome analysis indicates that ZmRR1 positively regulates the expression of ZmDREB1 and Cellulose synthase (CesA) genes to enhance chilling tolerance. Our findings thus provide a potential genetic resource for improving chilling tolerance in maize.

Suggested Citation

  • Rong Zeng & Zhuoyang Li & Yiting Shi & Diyi Fu & Pan Yin & Jinkui Cheng & Caifu Jiang & Shuhua Yang, 2021. "Natural variation in a type-A response regulator confers maize chilling tolerance," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-25001-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25001-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Mingyue Guo & Fengjun Yang & Lijuan Zhu & Leilei Wang & Zhichao Li & Zhenyu Qi & Vasileios Fotopoulos & Jingquan Yu & Jie Zhou, 2024. "Loss of cold tolerance is conferred by absence of the WRKY34 promoter fragment during tomato evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-20, December.

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