Affiliation:
1. National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 China
2. Hubei Hongshan Laboratory Wuhan 430070 China
3. Yazhouwan National Laboratory Sanya 572024 China
4. Department of Molecular Physiology Max‐Planck‐Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology Potsdam‐Golm 14476 Germany
5. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor New York 11724 USA
Abstract
SUMMARYEar length (EL) is a key trait that greatly contributes to yield in maize. Although dozens of EL quantitative trait loci have been mapped, very few causal genes have been cloned, and the molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Our previous study showed that YIGE1 is involved in sugar and auxin pathways to regulate ear inflorescence meristem (IM) development and thus affects EL in maize. Here, we reveal that YIGE2, the paralog of YIGE1, regulates maize ear development and EL through auxin pathway. Knockout of YIGE2 causes a significant decrease of auxin level, IM length, floret number, EL, and grain yield. yige1 yige2 double mutants had even shorter IM and ears implying that these two genes redundantly regulate IM development and EL. The genes controlling auxin levels are differential expressed in yige1 yige2 double mutants, leading to lower auxin level. These results elucidated the critical role of YIGE2 and the redundancy between YIGE2 and YIGE1 in maize ear development, providing a new genetic resource for maize yield improvement.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
National Key Research and Development Program of China