Abstract
Summary In maize, kernel traits strongly impact overall grain yields, and it is known that sophisticated spatiotemporal programs of gene expression coordinate kernel development, so advancing our knowledge of kernel development can help efforts to improve grain yields. Here, using phenotype, genotype and transcriptomics data of maize kernels at 5 and 15 days after pollination ( DAP ) for a large association mapping panel, we employed multiple quantitative genetics approaches—genome‐wide association studies ( GWAS ) as well as expression quantitative trait loci ( eQTL ) and quantitative trait transcript ( QTT ) analyses—to gain insights about molecular genetic basis of kernel development in maize. This resulted in the identification of 137 putative kernel length‐related genes at 5 DAP , of which 43 are located in previously reported QTL regions. Strikingly, we identified an eQTL that overlaps the locus encoding a maize homolog of the recently described m 6 A methylation reader protein ECT 2 from Arabidopsis; this putative epi e QTL is associated with 53 genes and may represent a master epi‐transcriptomic regulator of kernel development. Notably, among the genes associated with this epi e QTL , 10 are for the main storage proteins in the maize endosperm (zeins) and two are known regulators of zein expression or endosperm development ( Opaque2 and Zm ICE 1 ). Collectively, beyond cataloging and characterizing genomic attributes of a large number of eQTL associated with kernel development in maize, our study highlights how an eQTL approach can bolster the impact of both GWAS and QTT studies and can drive insights about the basic biology of plants.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
The analysis identified 137 putative kernel length related genes at 5 DAP.
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e0“identification of 137 putative kernel length‐related genes at 5 DAP”
Claim · model-written summary
Forty-three identified genes were in previously reported QTL regions.
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e0“of which 43 are located in previously reported QTL regions”
Claim · model-written summary
An eQTL overlapped the locus for a maize homolog of ECT 2.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
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e0“an eQTL that overlaps the locus encoding a maize homolog of the recently described m 6 A methylation reader protein ECT 2 from Arabidopsis”
Claim · model-written summary
The putative epi eQTL was associated with 53 genes.
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e0“this putative epi e QTL is associated with 53 genes”
Claim · model-written summary
The epi eQTL may be a master regulator of kernel development.
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e0“may represent a master epi‐transcriptomic regulator of kernel development”
Claim · model-written summary
Ten genes associated with the epi eQTL encode main maize endosperm storage proteins.
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Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
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e0“10 are for the main storage proteins in the maize endosperm (zeins)”
Claim · model-written summary
Two associated genes are known regulators of zein expression or endosperm development.
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e0“two are known regulators of zein expression or endosperm development ( Opaque2 and Zm ICE 1 )”