Abstract
Nitrogen use efficiency remains the primary bottleneck for sustainable maize production. This study elucidates the functional mechanisms of the amino acid transporter ZmAAP1 in nitrogen absorption and stress resilience. Through systematic evolutionary analysis of 55 maize inbred lines, we discovered that the ZmAAP1 gene family exhibits distinct chromosomal localization (Chr7 and Chr9) and functional domain diversification (e.g., group 10-specific motifs 11/12), indicating species-specific adaptive evolution. Integrative analysis of promoter cis-elements and multi-omics data confirmed the root-preferential expression of ZmAAP1 under drought stress, mediated via the ABA-DRE signaling pathway. To validate its biological role, we generated transgenic maize lines expressing Arabidopsis thaliana AtAAP1 via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Three generations of genetic stability screening confirmed the stable genomic integration and root-specific accumulation of the AtAAP1 protein (Southern blot/Western blot). Field trials demonstrated that low-N conditions enhanced the following transgenic traits: the chlorophyll content increased by 13.5%, and the aboveground biomass improved by 7.2%. Under high-N regimes, the gene-pyramided hybrid ZD958 (AAP1 + AAP1) achieved a 12.3% yield advantage over conventional varieties. Our findings reveal ZmAAP1’s dual role in root development and long-distance nitrogen transport, establishing it as a pivotal target for molecular breeding. This study provides actionable genetic resources for enhancing NUE in maize production systems.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
The ZmAAP1 gene family shows distinct chromosomal localization on Chr7 and Chr9 across 55 maize inbred lines.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize”
e1“the ZmAAP1 gene family exhibits distinct chromosomal localization (Chr7 and Chr9)”
Claim · model-written summary
The ZmAAP1 gene family shows functional domain diversification, including group 10-specific motifs 11/12.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize”
e2“functional domain diversification (e.g., group 10-specific motifs 11/12)”
Claim · model-written summary
Root-preferential expression of ZmAAP1 under drought stress is mediated via the ABA-DRE signaling pathway, according to the authors.
- Organ / stage
- roote3
- Treatment
- drought stresse3
- Gene
- ZmAAP1e3
- Outcome
- root-preferential expression of ZmAAP1e3
- Qualifier
- mediated via the ABA-DRE signaling pathwaye3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize”
e3“confirmed the root-preferential expression of ZmAAP1 under drought stress, mediated via the ABA-DRE signaling pathway”
Claim · model-written summary
Transgenic maize lines expressing AtAAP1 show stable genomic integration and root-specific accumulation of the AtAAP1 protein over three generations.
- Material
- transgenic maize linese4
- Organ / stage
- roote5
- Gene
- AtAAP1e5
- Outcome
- stable genomic integration and root-specific accumulation of the AtAAP1 proteine5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize”
e4“we generated transgenic maize lines expressing Arabidopsis thaliana AtAAP1 via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation”
e5“confirmed the stable genomic integration and root-specific accumulation of the AtAAP1 protein”
Claim · model-written summary
In field trials under low-N conditions, transgenic maize had a chlorophyll content increased by 13.5%.
- Material
- transgenice6
- Treatment
- low-N conditionse6
- Outcome
- chlorophyll contente6
- Direction
- increasede6
- Value
- 13.5%e6
- Setting
- Field trialse6
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize”
e6“Field trials demonstrated that low-N conditions enhanced the following transgenic traits: the chlorophyll content increased by 13.5%, and the aboveground biomass improved by 7.2%”
Claim · model-written summary
In field trials under low-N conditions, transgenic maize had aboveground biomass improved by 7.2%.
- Material
- transgenice6
- Treatment
- low-N conditionse6
- Outcome
- aboveground biomasse6
- Direction
- improvede6
- Value
- 7.2%e6
- Setting
- Field trialse6
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize”
e6“Field trials demonstrated that low-N conditions enhanced the following transgenic traits: the chlorophyll content increased by 13.5%, and the aboveground biomass improved by 7.2%”
Claim · model-written summary
Under high-N regimes, the gene-pyramided hybrid ZD958 (AAP1 + AAP1) gave a 12.3% yield advantage over conventional varieties.
- Material
- ZD958e7
- Treatment
- high-N regimese7
- Gene
- AAP1e7
- Outcome
- yielde7
- Direction
- higherinferrede7
- Value
- 12.3%e7
- Comparator
- conventional varietiese7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize”
e7“Under high-N regimes, the gene-pyramided hybrid ZD958 (AAP1 + AAP1) achieved a 12.3% yield advantage over conventional varieties”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors conclude that ZmAAP1 has a dual role in root development and long-distance nitrogen transport.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize”
e1“Our findings reveal ZmAAP1’s dual role in root development and long-distance nitrogen transport”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors conclude that ZmAAP1 is a pivotal target for molecular breeding.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize”
e1“Our findings reveal ZmAAP1’s dual role in root development and long-distance nitrogen transport”
e2“establishing it as a pivotal target for molecular breeding”
Claim · model-written summary
The study provides actionable genetic resources for enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in maize production systems.
- Outcome
- actionable genetic resources for enhancing NUEe1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize”
e1“This study provides actionable genetic resources for enhancing NUE in maize production systems”