Comparative transcript profiling of maize inbreds in response to long-term phosphorus deficiency stress.
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food and energy crop, and low phosphate (Pi) availability is one of the major constraints in maize production worldwide. Plants adapt suitably to acclimate to low Pi stress. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of Pi deficiency response is still unclear. In this study, comparative transcriptomic analyses were conducted to investigate the differences of transcriptional responses in two maize genotypes with different tolerances to low phosphorus (LP) stress. LP-tolerant genotype QXN233 maintained higher P and Pi levels in shoots than LP-sensitive genotype QXH0121 suffering from Pi deficiency at seedling stage. Moreover, the transcriptomic analysis identified a total of 1391 Pi-responsive genes differentially expressed between QXN233 and QXH0121 under LP stress. Among these genes, 468 (321 up- and 147 down-regulated) were identified in leaves, and 923 (626 up- and 297 down-regulated) were identified in roots. These Pi-responsive genes were involved in various metabolic pathways, the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, ion transport, phytohormone regulation, and other adverse stress responses. Consistent with the differential tolerance to LP stress, five maize inorganic Pi transporter genes were more highly up-regulated in QXN233 than in QXH0121. Results provide important information to further study the changes in global gene expression between LP-tolerant and LP-sensitive maize genotypes and to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying maize's long-term response to Pi deficiency.
Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Yanling
Y
Sun
Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Chunhua
C
Mu
College of Agriculture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang, China.
Yu
Y
Chen
College of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Xiangpei
X
Kong
School of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Yuanchao
Y
Xu
College of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Hongxia
H
Zheng
Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Hui
H
Zhang
Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Qingcheng
Q
Wang
Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Yanfang
Y
Xue
Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Zongxin
Z
Li
College of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Zhaojun
Z
Ding
Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science, Jinan, Shandong, China; College of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China. Electronic address: snakepy@126.com.
Xia
X
Liu
D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D005838:Genotype; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D028061:Phosphate Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D000069600:Plant Breeding; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
D028061:Phosphate Transport Proteins; D010710:Phosphates; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins; D010758:Phosphorus
Leaf; Low Pi stress; Maize; Pi transporter; RNA sequencing; Root