玉米ABA降解基因ZmABA8ox1b的功能鉴定及其调控机理解析

Seed vigor is the primary factor for the maize production, and further study of that is significant for improve maize quality and yield. Maize seed vigor is regulated by related genes and plant hormones, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Recently, we identified and characterized the hybrid up-regulated ABA inactivation gene ZmABA8ox1b, and Arabidopsis transformation analysis confirmed that increased expression level of ZmABA8ox1b could promote seed germination. The mutant had been obtained by CRISPR. In this study, the main objective is to clarify the relationship between ZmABA8ox1b and maize seed vigor from function identification, RNA deep sequencing, association analysis and gene expression regulation, in order to excavate functional genes and analyze the molecular mechanism of ABA inactivation gene ZmABA8ox1b. This will lay the foundation for the further understanding of maize seed vigor mechanism and breeding.

种子活力是玉米增产的第一要素，深入研究玉米种子活力进而提高种子质量和产量具有重要的实践意义和理论价值。玉米种子活力受众多基因以及植物激素调控，但其分子调控机理迄今尚未阐述清楚。在前期研究中，我们检测到了一个杂种上调表达的ABA降解基因ZmABA8ox1b，通过拟南芥遗传转化实验证实了该基因表达水平的提高能促进种子萌发，并采用CRISPR技术获得了ZmABA8ox1b基因的玉米功能缺失突变体。本申请课题拟以ZmABA8ox1b基因为研究对象，围绕该基因与玉米种子活力的关系，从功能鉴定、基因关联分析、转录组表达谱分析和基因表达调控等层面进行研究，以期挖掘出与玉米种子活力有关的功能基因，解析ZmABA8ox1b基因调控玉米种子活力的分子机理，为深入研究玉米种子活力的分子基础和玉米高活力育种提供参考和理论依据。