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A transposable element in a NAC gene is associated with drought tolerance in maize seedlings

Author

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  • Hude Mao

    (Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hongwei Wang

    (Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Shengxue Liu

    (Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhigang Li

    (Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaohong Yang

    (National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University)

  • Jianbing Yan

    (National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University)

  • Jiansheng Li

    (National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University)

  • Lam-Son Phan Tran

    (Signaling Pathway Research Unit, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science)

  • Feng Qin

    (Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Drought represents a major constraint on maize production worldwide. Understanding the genetic basis for natural variation in drought tolerance of maize may facilitate efforts to improve this trait in cultivated germplasm. Here, using a genome-wide association study, we show that a miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) inserted in the promoter of a NAC gene (ZmNAC111) is significantly associated with natural variation in maize drought tolerance. The 82-bp MITE represses ZmNAC111 expression via RNA-directed DNA methylation and H3K9 dimethylation when heterologously expressed in Arabidopsis. Increasing ZmNAC111 expression in transgenic maize enhances drought tolerance at the seedling stage, improves water-use efficiency and induces upregulation of drought-responsive genes under water stress. The MITE insertion in the ZmNAC111 promoter appears to have occurred after maize domestication and spread among temperate germplasm. The identification of this MITE insertion provides insight into the genetic basis for natural variation in maize drought tolerance.

Suggested Citation

  • Hude Mao & Hongwei Wang & Shengxue Liu & Zhigang Li & Xiaohong Yang & Jianbing Yan & Jiansheng Li & Lam-Son Phan Tran & Feng Qin, 2015. "A transposable element in a NAC gene is associated with drought tolerance in maize seedlings," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-13, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9326
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9326
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    Cited by:

    1. Hanne De Kort & Sylvain Legrand & Olivier Honnay & James Buckley, 2022. "Transposable elements maintain genome-wide heterozygosity in inbred populations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Apolo-Apolo, O.E. & Martínez-Guanter, J. & Pérez-Ruiz, M. & Egea, G., 2020. "Design and assessment of new artificial reference surfaces for real time monitoring of crop water stress index in maize," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).

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