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The Auxin-Deficient Defective Kernel18 (dek18) Mutation Alters the Expression of Seed-Specific Biosynthetic Genes in Maize

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Abstract

The dek18 mutant of maize was previously classified as a collapsed kernel mutant named cp*-931A, which has a decreased auxin content in kernels. Molecular and functional characterization of this mutant line offers the possibility to better understand auxin biology during maize seed development. Seeds of the dek18 mutants are smaller compared to wild-type seeds and the vegetative development of dek18 is delayed. Here we analyzed the expression of several auxin-related genes in dek18 homozygous seeds and normal-sized seeds (Dek18/-) segregating on the same ear. Three genes related to auxin biosynthesis ZmAlliinase/Tar3, ZmTar1, and ZmYuc1 were highly downregulated in the mutant compared to the wild type. Sequence analysis of these genes revealed that no nucleotide difference is present in dek18 homozygous seeds compared to Dek18/-, except for ZmYuc1. Two different ZmYuc1 cDNAs sequences are produced: a normal-sized sequence of 1197 bp and a shorter coding sequence lacking the third exon. Ectopic expression of ZmYuc1 cDNAs in Arabidopsis indicates that (i) the ZmYuc1 gene is functional in Arabidopsis and (ii) the third exon is required for the enzymatic activity of the YUCCA1 protein. Because ZmYuc1, ZmTar1, and ZmAlliinase are barely expressed in dek18 homozygous seeds, it is proposed that the mutation responsible for the dek18 phenotype alters the upstream regulation of the auxin biosynthetic pathway.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to Dr. G.M. Neuffer (University of Missouri, Columbia, MO) for sharing seeds of Dek18/- germplasm for this research. We thank Drs Zuyu Zheng and Joanne Chory for conducting the auxin measurements. Jamila Bernardi is supported by the FIRB grant no. RBFR08UG7, Ministry for Education and University, Italy.

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Author notes

  1. Raffaella Battaglia

    Present address: Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Genomics Research Centre, Via San Protaso 302, 29017, Fiorenzuola D’Arda, PC, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sustainable Crop Production (DIPROVES), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122, Piacenza, Italy

    Jamila Bernardi, Raffaella Battaglia & Adriano Marocco

  2. USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Qin-Bao Li

  3. Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Yangbin Gao & Yunde Zhao

  4. USDA-Agricultural Research Service & University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Prem S. Chourey

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  1. Jamila Bernardi
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  2. Qin-Bao Li
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  4. Yunde Zhao
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  5. Raffaella Battaglia
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  6. Adriano Marocco
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  7. Prem S. Chourey
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Correspondence to Adriano Marocco.

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Bernardi, J., Li, QB., Gao, Y. et al. The Auxin-Deficient Defective Kernel18 (dek18) Mutation Alters the Expression of Seed-Specific Biosynthetic Genes in Maize. J Plant Growth Regul 35, 770–777 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-016-9581-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-016-9581-6

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