A serine/threonine protein kinase encoding gene KERNEL NUMBER PER ROW6 regulates maize grain yield

Haitao Jia, Manfei Li, Weiya Li, Lei Liu, Yinan Jian, Zhixing Yang, Xiaomeng Shen, Qiang Ning, Yanfang Du, Ran Zhao, David Jackson, Xiaohong Yang and Zuxin Zhang ()
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Haitao Jia: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University
Manfei Li: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University
Weiya Li: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center of China, MOA Key Lab of Maize Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University
Lei Liu: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University
Yinan Jian: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University
Zhixing Yang: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center of China, MOA Key Lab of Maize Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University
Xiaomeng Shen: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University
Qiang Ning: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University
Yanfang Du: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University
Ran Zhao: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University
David Jackson: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University
Xiaohong Yang: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center of China, MOA Key Lab of Maize Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University
Zuxin Zhang: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Increasing grain yield of maize (Zea mays L.) is required to meet the rapidly expanding demands for maize-derived food, feed, and fuel. Breeders have enhanced grain productivity of maize hybrids by pyramiding desirable characteristics for larger ears. However, loci selected for improving grain productivity remain largely unclear. Here, we show that a serine/threonine protein kinase encoding gene KERNEL NUMBER PER ROW6 (KNR6) determines pistillate floret number and ear length. Overexpression of KNR6 or introgression of alleles lacking the insertions of two transposable elements in the regulatory region of KNR6 can significantly enhance grain yield. Further in vitro evidences indicate that KNR6 can interact with an Arf GTPase-activating protein (AGAP) and its phosphorylation by KNR6 may affect ear length and kernel number. This finding provides knowledge basis to enhance maize hybrids grain yield.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14746-7

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