玉米穗轴发育UniformMu突变体基因的克隆与功能解析

Maize (Zea mays L.) plays a critical role in feeding humans and livestock around the world, it is of great significance for ensuring food security by improving the maize yield through cultivating high yield maize varieties. To investigate the genetics basic of maize yield formation, we conducted the research on gene function and gene interaction of corn grain in maize, it would be useful to guide the molecular design breeding for yeild traits. Maize ear, as an important organ for improving yield components, which effected on maize yield. Therefore, cloning and function study of mutated genes association with maize cob could helpful for high yield maize varieties cultivation. Based on the previous study, the grain length and width of corn grain were used for the target traits and corn UniformMu grain type mutants were used for research materials, using Mu-Tail PCR and Mu-seq technology, we aimed to accurately identify Mu transposon insertion sites, thereby cloning of mutated genes by combing genotype and phenotype selection. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of maize ear development, differential expression genes (DEGs) involved in signaling pathways and regulatory pathway were identified and validated via qRT-PCR, in situ hybridization (ISH), as well as physiological and biochemical analysis. To investigate the candidate DEGs association with spike number of rows involved in maize ear development, it would provide reference for elucidate the molecular genetic basic for yield traits and it would be helpful to provide theoretical basis for high yield breeding using molecular design breeding, thereby, to ensure food security in China.

玉米是我国重要的粮食、饲料及工业原料，如何继续提高玉米单产、培育玉米高产品种，对保障我国粮食安全具有重要意义。玉米雌穗是玉米产量构成中的重要器官，对雌穗发育过程中、影响穗行数的穗轴发育突变基因进行克隆和功能解析是培育高产玉米新品种的关键。本项目拟在前期研究的基础之上，以同一基因内2个不同穗轴发育变异的UniformMu突变体为材料，结合田间表型分析和Mu-Tail PCR和Mu-seq的表型-基因型共分离技术，对穗轴发育突变基因进行鉴定和克隆；通过差异转录组分析来鉴定玉米穗轴发育的分子信号通路，筛选突变基因调控通路中的关键基因，结合qRT-PCR、组织原位杂交、生理生化分析等鉴定突变基因的功能，解析玉米穗轴发育的分子机理。发掘玉米雌穗发育过程中决定穗行数性状的关键基因位点，为产量性状的分子遗传解析提供借鉴，为克隆产量相关基因、培育高产玉米新品种进而确保我国粮食安全做出贡献。