Opaque16, a high lysine and tryptophan mutant, does not influence the key physico-biochemical characteristics in maize kernel

PLoS One. 2018 Jan 8;13(1):e0190945. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190945. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The enhancement of lysine and tryptophan in maize is so far basedon opaque2(o2) mutant, that along with the endosperm-modifiersled to development of Quality Protein Maize[QPM]. Though many mutants improving the endospermic protein quality were discovered, they could not be successfully deployed. Recently discovered opaque16 (o16)mutant enhances the lysine and tryptophan content in maize endosperm. In the present study, the influence of o16 on the endosperm modification was analyzed in four F2 populations, two each segregating for o16 allele alone and in combination with o2. The recessive o16o16 seed endosperm was found to be vitreousphenotypically similar to wild-O16O16. The mutant did not influence the degree of kernel opaqueness in o2o2 genetic background as opaqueness in o2o2/O16O16 and o2o2/o16o16 was similar. Grain hardness of o16o16 was comparable with the normal and QPM maize. The pattern of microscopic organization of proteinaceous matrix and starch granules, and zein profiling of the storage protein in o16o16 were found to be similar with normal maize endosperm, but distinct from the o2o2-soft genotype. The pattern in o2o2/o16o16 was unique and different from o2o2 and o16o16 as well. Here we demonstrated the effects of o16 on physico-biochemical characteristics of endosperm and report of o16 possessing negligible influence on kernel modification and hardness, which holds a great significance in maize quality breeding programme.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Genes, Plant
  • Genetic Markers
  • Lysine / metabolism*
  • Mutation*
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Tryptophan / metabolism*
  • Zea mays / genetics
  • Zea mays / metabolism*

Substances

  • Genetic Markers
  • Plant Proteins
  • Tryptophan
  • Lysine

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India sponsored network projects (BT/PR11708/AGR/02/649/2008 & BT/PR10922/AGII/106/944/2014). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.