Altered expression of maize PLASTOCHRON1 enhances biomass and seed yield by extending cell division duration

0475688 - ÚEB 2018 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Sun, X. - Cahill, J. - Van Hautegem, T. - Feys, K. - Whipple, C. - Novák, Ondřej - Delbare, S. - Versteele, C. - Demuynck, C. - De Block, J. - Storme, V. - Claeys, H. - Van Lijsebettens, M. - Coussens, G. - Ljung, K. - De Vliegher, A. - Muszynski, M. - Inzé, D. - Nelissen, H.
Altered expression of maize PLASTOCHRON1 enhances biomass and seed yield by extending cell division duration.
Nature Communications. Roč. 8, MAR 16 (2017), č. článku 14752. E-ISSN 2041-1723
Institutional support: RVO:61389030
Keywords : organ size * arabidopsis-thaliana * gene-expression * leaf size * growth * cytochrome-p450 * protein * plants * inference * mechanism
OECD category: Cell biology
Impact factor: 12.353, year: 2017

Maize is the highest yielding cereal crop grown worldwide for grain or silage. Here, we show that modulating the expression of the maize PLASTOCHRON1 (ZmPLA1) gene, encoding a cytochrome P450 (CYP78A1), results in increased organ growth, seedling vigour, stover biomass and seed yield. The engineered trait is robust as it improves yield in an inbred as well as in a panel of hybrids, at several locations and over multiple seasons in the field. Transcriptome studies, hormone measurements and the expression of the auxin responsive DR5(rev): mRFPer marker suggest that PLA1 may function through an increase in auxin. Detailed analysis of growth over time demonstrates that PLA1 stimulates the duration of leaf elongation by maintaining dividing cells in a proliferative, undifferentiated state for a longer period of time. The prolonged duration of growth also compensates for growth rate reduction caused by abiotic stresses.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0272342