玉米株高基因sd7、pin1和subr2的调控网络解析

Plant height is the key determinant for plant architecture in maize, building a bridge between the carbon “source” and “sink”. The reduced plant height has the potential to increase dry matter accumulation in yield organisms. However, the efficiency of the reshaping of plant height still remains low in maize, since plant height is controlled by the complex genetic factors in multiple hormonal pathways and small-effect QTLs, the study of the molecular basis for plant height lagged behind and the gene resource that can effectively reshape plant height is lack. The object of this project is to dissect the molecular genetic basis of the three plant height genes sd7, pin1 and subr2 and the regulatory network through the combination of 4 large datasets originated from RNA-seq, genome-wild association mapping, high-resolution QTL mapping and genomic selection analysis. This project will dissect several key genes in the regulatory network and identify good alleles of plant height, significantly deepen our knowledge of the regulatory networks and make a solid foundation for the improvement of plant architecture in maize.

玉米株高是影响株型的关键性因素，也是连接“源库”的关键桥梁器官，有效降低株高有利于促进光合同化物更多地转移到玉米雌穗。然而由于玉米株高的遗传背景复杂，受到多种激素途径和许多微效的QTL控制，玉米株高基因的分子机制及其调控网络研究的严重滞后和有效改良株高半矮秆基因的缺乏，从而导致了玉米株高改良效率十分低下。本集成项目将对3个玉米的株高基因sd7、pin1和subr2的功能进行研究的同时，结合RNA-seq、全基因组关联分析、QTL高通量定位以及全基因组的选择信号等大数据对这3个株高基因的调控网络进行深入分析，解析关键节点基因的功能并挖掘改良玉米株高的优异基因位点，为加速玉米株高的改良提供强有力的理论基础和技术支撑。

优良的株型是玉米高产的基础，而株高是株型构成的关键因素之一。株高与多种农艺性状关联，适当降低株高可提升群体光合效率，增强抗倒伏能力，从而达到增产的目的。玉米株高遗传背景复杂，本项目以前期克隆的关Sd7、Dlf1、Subr2、Pin1和ZmRPH1等键株高基因入手，采用RNA-seq、ChIP-seq、基因编辑技术、全基因组关联分析等手段深入研究了玉米株高基因调控玉米株型的分子机理和调控网络；进一步通过生物大数据分析，在玉米第一代互作组中解析Sd7、Subr2和Pin1各自特有的和共同的调控网络。此外，还利用QTL高通量定位了上百个玉米株型相关QTL位点。通过该项目的研究，发掘株高发育关键节点基因，为加速玉米株型改良提供理论基础和技术支撑。在本项目支持下，共发表SCI 论文11篇，申请专利1项。