Publication Date:
2019
Description:
〈p〉Increased planting densities have boosted maize yields. Upright plant architecture facilitates dense planting. Here, we cloned 〈i〉UPA1〈/i〉 (〈i〉Upright Plant Architecture1〈/i〉) and 〈i〉UPA2〈/i〉, two quantitative trait loci conferring upright plant architecture. 〈i〉UPA2〈/i〉 is controlled by a two-base sequence polymorphism regulating the expression of a B3-domain transcription factor (〈i〉ZmRAVL1〈/i〉) located 9.5 kilobases downstream. 〈i〉UPA2〈/i〉 exhibits differential binding by DRL1 (DROOPING LEAF1), and DRL1 physically interacts with LG1 (LIGULELESS1) and represses LG1 activation of 〈i〉ZmRAVL1〈/i〉. 〈i〉ZmRAVL1〈/i〉 regulates 〈i〉brd1〈/i〉 (〈i〉brassinosteroid C-6 oxidase1〈/i〉), which underlies 〈i〉UPA1〈/i〉, altering endogenous brassinosteroid content and leaf angle. The 〈i〉UPA2〈/i〉 allele that reduces leaf angle originated from teosinte, the wild ancestor of maize, and has been lost during maize domestication. Introgressing the wild 〈i〉UPA2〈/i〉 allele into modern hybrids and editing 〈i〉ZmRAVL1〈/i〉 enhance high-density maize yields.〈/p〉
Print ISSN:
0036-8075
Electronic ISSN:
1095-9203
Topics:
Biology
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Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Computer Science
,
Medicine
,
Natural Sciences in General
,
Physics
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