Gene expression in some maize genotypes

Abstract

Three genotypes of maize, namely (Baghdad, 5018, and Sara) were investigated in the fields of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad/ Al-Jadriya, in the fall season 2021-2022. With three sowing dates (26 July, 4 August, 12 August), The experiment was implemented according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The aim is to detect the expression of the INCW1 gene associated with sucrose-to-glucose analysis, which is critical for many metabolic functions in different sink tissues, and determine the amount of fold gene expression to find out which of the genotypes contain the invertase gene, and which ones have a high level of gene expression based on the fold of gene expression. The results showed significant differences in the invertase enzyme activity for the genotypes. The best genotype was (Sara) which showed a value of 1.14 mg-1.units.protein—followed genotype (Baghdad) 0.86 mg-1.units.protein. The least effective protein was for genotype (5018), which showed a value of 0.40 mg-1.units.protein. As for the sowing dates, the second sowing date (D2) was the best, which showed a value of 1.39 mg-1.units.protein. Followed by the third sowing date (D3), which showed a value of 0.51 mg-1.units.protein, and the first sowing date (D1), which showed the most negligible value of 0.51 mg-1units. The expression of the INCW1 gene varied in the genotypes of three sowing dates with values ranging between (0.30) and (2.38), where the genotype (Sara) at the second sowing date (D2), which showed the value highest of gene expression (2.38) and the exact date (D3) gave INCW1 gene showed value (2.21) for genotype (Baghdad). The genotypes also varied in their tolerance to increase or decrease the gene expression, which is considered one of the most important sucrose decomposition genes for maize crops. Keywords: - Invertase, gene expression, Zea mays. L, Sowing date, Genotype.