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. 2021 Jul 1;19(3):e2637.
doi: 10.30498/ijb.2021.209324.2637. eCollection 2021 Jul.

Identification of Candidate Genes for Drought Tolerance at Maize Seedlings Using Genome-Wide Association

Wenping Liu  1 , Shufang Li  1 , Chunxiao Zhang  1 , Fengxue Jin  1 , Wanjun Li  2 , Xiaohui Li  1
Affiliations

Identification of Candidate Genes for Drought Tolerance at Maize Seedlings Using Genome-Wide Association

Wenping Liu et al. Iran J Biotechnol. .

Abstract

Background: Drought stress is a serious threat that limit maize growth and production.

Objectives: The assessment tolerance level of maize by measuring changes in the main biochemical and physiological indicators under drought stress.

Material and methods: We performed a genome-wide association analysis of biochemical and physiological indicators using an elite association panel.

Results: The results revealed that eight significant SNPs (p<0.05/N) located in eight genes that are distributed on different chromosomes were associated with drought resistance indices under drought stress. Among these genes, four genes were linked via the associated SNPs with drought-resistance indices of the malondialdehyde activity (MDA), three genes were linked with drought resistance indexes of the superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), and one gene was linked with drought resistance indexes of relative conductivity (REC). The candidate genes functioned as transcription factors, enzymes, and transporters, which included trehalase, the AP2/EREB160 transcription factor, and glutathione S-transferase and also encoded a gene of unknown function. These genes may be directly or indirectly involved in drought resistance. The expression levels of ZmEREB160 responded to ABA and drought stress.

Conclusions: These results provided good information to understand the genetic basis of variation in drought resistance indices of biochemical and physiological indicators during drought stress.

Keywords: Drought-resistance indices; Genome-wide association study; Maize; Physiological and biochemical traits.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Analysis of the population structure and relative kinships. A) Relative kinships: Δk value was based on 2642 SNPs; B) Population structure estimated by STRUCTURE (k =5).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Manhattan plots (left) and quantile-quantile (QQ) plot (right) of GWAS for MDA, REC and SOD. A) Manhattan plot and QQ plot for MDA. B) Manhattan plot and QQ plot for SOD. C) Manhattan plot and QQ plot for REC.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Expression patterns of ZmEREB160 under abiotic stress in maize. Expression of ZmEREB160 in leaves (white bars) and roots (grey bars), respectively, under stress treatments with PEG (A) and ABA (B). The samples were collected for each time point per treatment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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