Progressive meristem and single-cell transcriptomes reveal the regulatory mechanisms underlying maize inflorescence development and sex differentiation  

作　　者：Yonghao Sun Liang Dong Lu Kang Wanshun Zhong David Jackson Fang Yang 

机构地区：[1]National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement,Huazhong Agricultural University,Wuhan 430070,China [2]Hubei Hongshan Laboratory,Wuhan 430070,China [3]Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory,Cold Spring Harbor,NY 11724,USA [4]School of Agriculture,Sun Yat-Sen University,Shenzhen 518107,China

出　　处：《Molecular Plant》2024年第7期1019-1037,共19页分子植物（英文版）

基　　金：the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32172026,U22A20460 to F.Y.);the Interdisciplinary Sciences Research Institute(2662021JC005 to F.Y.);111 Project Crop genomics and Molecular Breeding(B20051 to F.Y.).

摘　　要：Maize develops separate ear and tassel inflorescences with initially similar morphology but ultimately different architecture and sexuality.The detailed regulatory mechanisms underlying these changes still remain largely unclear.In this study,through analyzing the time-course meristem transcriptomes and floret single-cell transcriptomes of ear and tassel,we revealed the regulatory dynamics and pathways underlying inflorescence development and sex differentiation.We identified 16 diverse gene clusters with differential spatiotemporal expression patterns and revealed biased regulation of redox,programmed cell death,and hormone signals during meristem differentiation between ear and tassel.Notably,based on their dynamic expression patterns,we revealed the roles of two RNA-binding proteins in regulating inflorescence meristem activity and axillary meristem formation.Moreover,using the transcriptional profiles of 53910 single cells,we uncovered the cellular heterogeneity between ear and tassel florets.We found that multiple signals associatedwith either enhancedcell death or reduced growth are responsiblefortassel pistil suppression,while part of the gibberellic acid signal may act non-cell-autonomously to regulate ear stamen arrest during sex differentiation.We further showed that the pistil-protection gene SILKLESS 1(SK1)functions antagonistically to the known pistil-suppression genes through regulating common molecular pathways,and constructed a regulatory network for pistil-fate determination.Collectively,our study provides a deep understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying inflorescence development and sex differentiation in maize,laying the foundation for identifying new regulators and pathways for maize hybrid breeding and improvement.

关 键 词：MAIZE INFLORESCENCE floral organ sex differentiation single-cell RNA sequencing RNA-binding protein 

分 类 号：S513[农业科学—作物学]