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Background <p>The maize female ear is a key reproductive organ whose morphology directly determines yield. Uniconazole, a gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis inhibitor, is used to regulate ear development and improve yield. However, its mode of action on ear morphogenesis remains incompletely defined.</p> Results <p>We foliar-applied uniconazole (25&#xa0;mg L<sup>–1</sup>) at the 12-leaf stage and evaluated ear development using morphology, physiology, and transcriptomics. Uniconazole shortened ear length while significantly increasing ear diameter, cob cross-sectional area, and cob cell-wall thickness. The changes of female ear morphology were accompanied by alterations in hormone (IAA, GA, ABA, ZR) levels and carbohydrate (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin) profiles. Transcriptome analysis revealed a widespread transcriptional reprogramming. This reprogramming was characterized by the down-regulation of putative growth-restricting receptor kinases (e.g., LRR, PERK) and the concerted up-regulation of master transcriptional regulators (NAC, MYB) of secondary cell-wall biosynthesis. In hormone signaling, the down-regulation of auxin-responsive genes and the up-regulation of DELLA repressors indicated the suppression of both IAA and GA signaling pathways. Concurrently, the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was strongly activated, aligning with enhanced lignin deposition.</p> Conclusions <p>Uniconazole reshapes maize female ears into a shorter length and thicker diameter morphology. This is achieved through a coordinated molecular mechanism involving hormone rebalancing, repression of the GA-DELLA signaling pathway, and activation of the NAC/MYB-mediated secondary cell wall biosynthesis pathway. Our findings provide a mechanistic basis for the targeted use of uniconazole in maize cultivation.</p>

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Physiological and transcriptomic analyses for assessing the effects of uniconazole on female ear development in maize (Zea Mays L.)

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月28日

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  • Lei Xu,
  • Huiquan Wang,
  • Xiangchuan Wang,
  • JianJian Zhang,
  • Vincent JEI,
  • Daoquan Cheng,
  • Yue Zhao

摘要

Background

The maize female ear is a key reproductive organ whose morphology directly determines yield. Uniconazole, a gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis inhibitor, is used to regulate ear development and improve yield. However, its mode of action on ear morphogenesis remains incompletely defined.

Results

We foliar-applied uniconazole (25 mg L–1) at the 12-leaf stage and evaluated ear development using morphology, physiology, and transcriptomics. Uniconazole shortened ear length while significantly increasing ear diameter, cob cross-sectional area, and cob cell-wall thickness. The changes of female ear morphology were accompanied by alterations in hormone (IAA, GA, ABA, ZR) levels and carbohydrate (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin) profiles. Transcriptome analysis revealed a widespread transcriptional reprogramming. This reprogramming was characterized by the down-regulation of putative growth-restricting receptor kinases (e.g., LRR, PERK) and the concerted up-regulation of master transcriptional regulators (NAC, MYB) of secondary cell-wall biosynthesis. In hormone signaling, the down-regulation of auxin-responsive genes and the up-regulation of DELLA repressors indicated the suppression of both IAA and GA signaling pathways. Concurrently, the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was strongly activated, aligning with enhanced lignin deposition.

Conclusions

Uniconazole reshapes maize female ears into a shorter length and thicker diameter morphology. This is achieved through a coordinated molecular mechanism involving hormone rebalancing, repression of the GA-DELLA signaling pathway, and activation of the NAC/MYB-mediated secondary cell wall biosynthesis pathway. Our findings provide a mechanistic basis for the targeted use of uniconazole in maize cultivation.