Maize is the highest yielding cereal crop grown worldwide for grain or silage. Here, we show that modulating the expression of the maize PLASTOCHRON1 (ZmPLA1) gene, encoding a cytochrome P450 (CYP78A1), results in increased organ growth, seedling vigour, stover biomass and seed yield. The engineered trait is robust as it improves yield in an inbred as well as in a panel of hybrids, at several locations and over multiple seasons in the field. Transcriptome studies, hormone measurements and the expression of the auxin responsive DR5rev:mRFPer marker suggest that PLA1 may function through an increase in auxin. Detailed analysis of growth over time demonstrates that PLA1 stimulates the duration of leaf elongation by maintaining dividing cells in a proliferative, undifferentiated state for a longer period of time. The prolonged duration of growth also compensates for growth rate reduction caused by abiotic stresses.
- MeSH
- biomasa * MeSH
- buněčné dělení genetika MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- geneticky modifikované rostliny MeSH
- kukuřice setá genetika růst a vývoj metabolismus MeSH
- kyseliny indoloctové metabolismus MeSH
- listy rostlin genetika růst a vývoj metabolismus MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u rostlin MeSH
- rostlinné proteiny genetika MeSH
- semena rostlinná genetika metabolismus MeSH
- semenáček růst a vývoj metabolismus MeSH
- stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
- systém (enzymů) cytochromů P-450 genetika MeSH
- vývojová regulace genové exprese MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
