Maize ARGOS1 (ZAR1) transgenic alleles increase hybrid maize yield.
Crop improvement for yield and drought tolerance is challenging due to the complex genetic nature of these traits and environmental dependencies. This study reports that transgenic over-expression of Zea mays AR GOS1 (ZAR1) enhanced maize organ growth, grain yield, and drought-stress tolerance. The ZAR1 transgene exhibited environmental interactions, with yield increase under Temperate Dry and yield reduction under Temperate Humid or High Latitude environments. Native ZAR1 allele variation associated with drought-stress tolerance. Two founder alleles identified in the mid-maturity germplasm of North America now predominate in Pioneer's modern breeding programme, and have distinct proteins, promoters and expression patterns. These two major alleles show heterotic group partitioning, with one predominant in Pioneer's female and the other in the male heterotic groups, respectively. These two alleles also associate with favourable crop performance when heterozygous. Allele-specific transgene testing showed that, of the two alleles discussed here, each allele differed in their impact on yield and environmental interactions. Moreover, when transgenically stacked together the allelic pair showed yield and environmental performance advantages over either single allele, resembling heterosis effects. This work demonstrates differences in transgenic efficacy of native alleles and the differences reflect their association with hybrid breeding performance.
DuPont Pioneer, 7300 NW 62nd Ave, Johnston, Iowa 50131, USA.
Mei
M
Guo
Mary A
MA
Rupe
Jun
J
Wei
Chris
C
Winkler
Marymar
M
Goncalves-Butruille
Ben P
BP
Weers
Sharon F
SF
Cerwick
Jo Ann
JA
Dieter
Keith E
KE
Duncan
Richard J
RJ
Howard
Zhenglin
Z
Hou
Carlos M
CM
Löffler
Mark
M
Cooper
Carl R
CR
Simmons
D000483:Alleles; D001483:Base Sequence; D018533:Biomass; D001947:Breeding; D055864:Droughts; D015870:Gene Expression; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D006823:Hybrid Vigor; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010641:Phenotype; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D019076:Transgenes; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
D010940:Plant Proteins
Maize hybrid; ZAR1; Zea mays.; heterosis; native allele variation; transgene by environment interaction; transgene efficacy