Embracing native diversity to enhance the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II in maize
The sustainability of maize cultivation would benefit tremendously from early sowing, but is hampered by low temperatures during early development in temperate climates. We show that allelic variation within the gene encoding subunit M of the NADH-dehydrogenase-like (NDH) complex (ndhm1) in a European maize landrace affects several quantitative traits that are relevant during early development in cold climates through NDH-mediated cyclic electron transport around photosystem I, a process crucial for photosynthesis and photoprotection. Beginning with a genome-wide association study for maximum potential quantum yield of photosystem II in dark-adapted leaves (Fv/Fm), we capitalized on the large phenotypic effects of a hAT transposon insertion in ndhm1 on multiple quantitative traits (early plant height [EPH], Fv/Fm, chlorophyll content, and cold tolerance) caused by the reduced protein levels of NDHM and associated NDH components. Analysis of the ndhm1 native allelic series revealed a rare allele of ndhm1 that is associated with small albeit significant improvements of Fv/Fm, photosystem II efficiency in light-adapted leaves (ΦPSII), and EPH compared with common alleles. Our work showcases the extraction of favorable alleles from locally adapted landraces, offering an efficient strategy for broadening the genetic variation of elite germplasm by breeding or genome editing.
Authors
- Viktoriya Avramova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6448-1312)
- Thomas Presterl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4447-4350)
- Bernardo Ordás (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7853-7391)
- Peter Westhoff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4621-1490)
- Chris‐Carolin Schön
- Frank Hochholdinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5155-0884)
- Milena Ouzunova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3320-0888)
- Stefan Reuscher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0491-5227)
- Claude Urbany (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0097-8901)
- Karin Ernst (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7254-1749)
- Sarah Brajkovic
- Sebastian Urzinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6729-3122)
- Manfred Mayer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2687-8316)
- Caroline Marcon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6699-9441)
- Daniela Scheuermann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6342-6581)
- Monika Frey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7665-7277)
Institutions
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
- University of Bonn (DE)
- Misión Biológica de Galicia (ES)
- KWS Saat (Germany) (DE)
- Institute of Crop Science (JP)
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (DE)
- Technical University of Munich (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
- Published
- 2024-12-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiae670
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.40
Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Technische Universität München
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement