Gene expression and genetic control to cold tolerance during maize seed germination

Abstract

Background: The study of cold tolerance in maize seeds and seedlings through physiological quality assessments, as well as the genetic control associated with this trait, allows an early characterization of genotypes. Here we studied the genetic control for cold tolerance during the germination process in maize seeds and genes influenced by this stress. Results: Six maize lines were used, three classified as tolerant and three as susceptible to low germination temperature. A field was developed to produce the hybrid seeds, in a partial diallel scheme including the reciprocal crosses. For the expression analysis, seeds from two contrasting lines were used, as well as their hybrid combination and their reciprocal crosses, on dried and moistened seeds at 10°C for 4 and 7 days. It was evaluated the catalase (CAT) and esterase (EST) enzymes, heat-resistant proteins and the genes Putative stearoyl-ACP desaturase (SAD), Ascorbate Peroxidase (APX), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (ZmMPK5). The estimated values for heterosis, general and specific combining abilities and reciprocal maternal and non-maternal effects were carried out and it showed that there is heterosis for germination at low temperatures, also the nonadditive genes were more important and there was a reciprocal effect. Conclusions: There is a greater expression of the CAT and EST enzymes in moistened seeds at seven days and there is less expression of heat-resistant proteins and the SAD gene at seven days of moistening. Also, there are variations in the expression of the APX, SOD and ZmMPK5 genes in dried and moistened seeds, as well as among the genotypes studied.

Identification of Multiple Genetic Loci Related to Low-Temperature Tolerance during Germination in Maize (Zea maize L.) through a Genome-Wide Association Study

“…Quantitative genetic analyses of cold tolerance have shown that genotype, additive effects, growth stage, heterosis, and reciprocal and environmental factors are all involved in the expression of cold tolerance in maize [46]. Six maize lines were used to evaluate the expression of CAT, APX, SOD, and other genes; the results showed that there was heterosis for germination under cold stress, and non-additive genes were more important [47]. The studies cited above show that the genetics mechanisms of low-temperature tolerance in maize are very complicated.…”

Exploring the impact of dry conditioning on the postharvest quality and longevity of torch ginger flower stems

“…A volume of 60 µL of the sample supernatant was applied to the gel, and the electrophoretic run was performed at 150 V for 5 hours. After the run, the gels were used to detect the activities of SOD and CAT enzymes, following the methods described by Silva Neta et al (2020).…”

Starch-based films for Red Torch ginger inflorescences postharvest conservation

“…The enzymatic activity of peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) was determined by electrophoresis (Silva Neta et al, 2020). 1 g of fresh matter was extracted into 0.2 M Tris-HCl buffer pH 8.0 + 0.1% beta-mercaptoethanol for SOD and CAT, and for the POX enzyme, potassium phosphate buffer was used at a ratio of 300 µL per 100 mg of fresh weight.…”