A PECTIN METHYLESTERASE gene at the maize Ga1 locus confers male function in unilateral cross-incompatibility

Zhaogui Zhang, Baocai Zhang, Zhibin Chen, Dongmei Zhang, Huairen Zhang, Hang Wang, Yu’e Zhang, Darun Cai, Juan Liu, Senlin Xiao, Yanqing Huo, Jie Liu, Lanjun Zhang, Mingming Wang, Xu Liu, Yongbiao Xue, Li Zhao (), Yihua Zhou () and Huabang Chen ()
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Zhaogui Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Baocai Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhibin Chen: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Dongmei Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Huairen Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hang Wang: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yu’e Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Darun Cai: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Juan Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Senlin Xiao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yanqing Huo: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jie Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lanjun Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Mingming Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xu Liu: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Yongbiao Xue: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Li Zhao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yihua Zhou: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Huabang Chen: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Unilateral cross-incompatibility (UCI) is a unidirectional inter/intra-population reproductive barrier when both parents are self-compatible. Maize Gametophyte factor1 (Ga1) is an intraspecific UCI system and has been utilized in breeding. However, the mechanism underlying maize UCI specificity has remained mysterious for decades. Here, we report the cloning of ZmGa1P, a pollen-expressed PECTIN METHYLESTERASE (PME) gene at the Ga1 locus that can confer the male function in the maize UCI system. Homozygous transgenic plants expressing ZmGa1P in a ga1 background can fertilize Ga1-S plants and can be fertilized by pollen of ga1 plants. ZmGa1P protein is predominantly localized to the apex of growing pollen tubes and may interact with another pollen-specific PME protein, ZmPME10-1, to maintain the state of pectin methylesterification required for pollen tube growth in Ga1-S silks. Our study discloses a PME-mediated UCI mechanism and provides a tool to manipulate hybrid breeding.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06139-8

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