Plant nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) B subunits confer drought tolerance and lead to improved corn yields on water-limited acres.
Commercially improved crop performance under drought conditions has been challenging because of the complexity of the trait and the multitude of factors that influence yield. Here we report the results of a functional genomics approach that identified a transcription factor from the nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) family, AtNF-YB1, which acts through a previously undescribed mechanism to confer improved performance in Arabidopsis under drought conditions. An orthologous maize transcription factor, ZmNF-YB2, is shown to have an equivalent activity. Under water-limited conditions, transgenic maize plants with increased ZmNF-YB2 expression show tolerance to drought based on the responses of a number of stress-related parameters, including chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, reduced wilting, and maintenance of photosynthesis. These stress adaptations contribute to a grain yield advantage to maize under water-limited environments. The application of this technology has the potential to significantly impact maize production systems that experience drought.
Nelson
Donald E
DE
Monsanto Company, 62 Maritime Drive, Mystic, CT 06355, USA. donald.e.nelson@monsanto.com
Repetti
Peter P
PP
Adams
Tom R
TR
Creelman
Robert A
RA
Wu
Jingrui
J
Warner
David C
DC
Anstrom
Don C
DC
Bensen
Robert J
RJ
Castiglioni
Paolo P
PP
Donnarummo
Meghan G
MG
Hinchey
Brendan S
BS
Kumimoto
Roderick W
RW
Maszle
Don R
DR
Canales
Roger D
RD
Krolikowski
Katherine A
KA
Dotson
Stanton B
SB
Gutterson
Neal
N
Ratcliffe
Oliver J
OJ
Heard
Jacqueline E
JE
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D023081:CCAAT-Binding Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004190:Disasters; D023281:Genomics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D023081:CCAAT-Binding Factor; C524874:NF-YB1 protein, Arabidopsis; D010940:Plant Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D014157:Transcription Factors; C402244:nuclear factor Y; D014867:Water