Journal Article

Genome-wide association study of trace elements in maize kernels

Wang, Qinnan, Qi, Yongwen, Chang, Hailong, Chachar, Zaid, Li, Xuhui, Chen, Weiwei, Lu, Chuanli, Zhang, Xiangbo

2024

Overview

Maize ( Zea mays L.), a staple food and significant economic crop, is enriched with riboflavin, micronutrients and other compounds that are beneficial for human health. As emphasis on the nutritional quality of crops increases maize research has expanded to focus on both yield and quality. This study exploreed the genetic factors influencing micronutrient levels in maize kernels through a comprehensive genome-wide association study (GWAS). We utilized a diverse panel of 244 inbred maize lines and approximately 3 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to investigate the accumulation of essential and trace elements including cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn). Our analysis identified 842 quantitative trait loci (QTLs), with 12 QTLs shared across multiple elements and pinpointed 524 potential genes within a 100 kb radius of these QTLs. Notably ZmHMA3 has emerged as a key candidate gene previously reported to influence the Cd accumulation. We highlighted ten pivotal genes associated with trace element transport including those encoding heavy metal ATPases, MYB transcription factors, ABC transporters and other crucial proteins involved in metal handling. Additionally, haplotype analysis revealed that eight inbred linesaccumulated relatively high levels of beneficial elements while harmful elements were minimized. These findings elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying trace element accumulation in maize kernels and provide a foundation for the breeding of nutritionally enhanced maize varieties.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Accumulation / adenosinetriphosphatase / Agriculture / Analysis / Anemia / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Cadmium / Candidate genes / Cereal crops / Cobalt / Copper / Corn / Crop yield / Crop yields / Diseases and pests / DNA binding proteins / Enzymes / Food quality / Food security / Forecasts and trends / Gene mapping / Genes / Genetic analysis / Genetic aspects / Genetic factors / Genome-wide association studies / Genome-Wide Association Study / Genomes / Global health / Growth / GWAS / Haplotype analysis / Haplotypes / Health aspects / Heavy metals / Hemoglobin / human health / Hunger / Inbreeding / Iron / Kernels / Life Sciences / Maize kernel / Metabolism / Micronutrients / Nickel / Nucleotides / Nutritive value / Plant Sciences / Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Protein transport / Proteins / QTLs / Quantitative Trait Loci / quantitative traits / Riboflavin / Seeds - genetics / Seeds - metabolism / Selenium / Single-nucleotide polymorphism / staple foods / Trace element / Trace elements / Trace elements (nutrients) / Trace Elements - analysis / Trace Elements - metabolism / Trace elements in nutrition / Transcription factors / Tree Biology / Zea mays / Zea mays - genetics / Zea mays - metabolism / Zinc