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Acta Agronomica Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (7): 1827-1837.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1006.2025.43028

• CROP GENETICS & BREEDING · GERMPLASM RESOURCES · MOLECULAR GENETICS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Transcription factor ZmMYB153 enhances drought tolerance in maize seedlings by regulating stomatal movement through ABA signaling

ZHANG Jian-Peng1,WANG Guo-Rui3,BIE Hai2,YE Fei-Yu3,MA Chen-Chen3,LIANG Xiao-Han3,LU Xiao-Min3,SHANG Xiao-Li4,*,CAO Li-Ru3,*   

  1. 1 Puyang Vocational and Technical College, Puyang 457000, Henan, China; 2 Zhengzhou Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, China; 3 Grain Crop Research Institute, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, China; 4 Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, China
  • Received:2024-07-03 Revised:2024-12-12 Accepted:2024-12-12 Online:2025-07-12 Published:2025-01-10
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32201708), Major Science and Technology Project of Henan Province (221100110300) and the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (CARS-02-08). 

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Abstract:

Drought significantly impacts corn growth and development, ultimately causing yield losses. To identify key drought-resistant genes in maize and elucidate their molecular mechanisms, we analyzed the maize drought-rehydration transcriptome and identified a drought-responsive gene, GRMZM2G050550, named ZmMYB153. Phylogenetic analysis and subcellular localization revealed that the ZmMYB153 protein shares a high degree of similarity with homologous proteins in other species and is localized in the nucleus. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that ZmMYB153 is most highly expressed in leaves. Under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-simulated drought conditions, the expression of ZmMYB153 was significantly upregulated. Similarly, under abscisic acid (ABA) treatment, its expression followed a dynamic pattern, initially increasing and then decreasing over time. Expression analysis of ZmMYB153 in different drought-resistant maize inbred lines under drought stress revealed that its expression level in the highly drought-resistant inbred line Zheng 6722 (Z6722) was significantly higher than in the moderately drought-resistant inbred line B73. To further investigate the biological function of ZmMYB153, transgenic maize lines overexpressing the gene were generated. Under drought stress, compared to wild-type (WT) plants, ZmMYB153 overexpression lines (OE-1 and OE-2) exhibited higher leaf relative water content (RWC), enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), and lower ion leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Observations of leaf stomatal status under drought conditions revealed that stomatal closure was significantly greater in ZmMYB153 overexpression lines than in WT plants, leading to a significantly reduced water loss rate. These findings suggest that ZmMYB153 plays a positive regulatory role in maize responses to drought stress. Furthermore, under drought stress, the expression levels of ABA signaling pathway genes ZmABI1 and ZmPAYL10 were significantly altered in ZmMYB153 overexpression lines, while the expression of the stomatal movement-related gene ZmSLAC1 was significantly higher than in WT plants. In summary, ZmMYB153 likely regulates leaf stomatal activity through its involvement in the ABA signaling pathway, thereby enhancing drought tolerance in maize.

Key words: maize, MYB, drought, stoma, abscisic acid

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