The Key Role of Glutamate Dehydrogenase 2 (GDH2) in the Control of Kernel Production in Maize ( Zea mays L.)

• Published in: Plants (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 14; p. 2612
• Main Authors: Tercé-Laforgue, Thérèse, Lothier, Jérémy, Limami, Anis M, Rouster, Jacques, Lea, Peter J, Hirel, Bertrand
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 11.07.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Agronomy; Amino acids; Corn; Crop production; Dehydrogenase; Dehydrogenases; Enzymes; Flowers & plants; Genes; Genetic engineering; Glutamate dehydrogenase; heterozygous; Homeostasis; homozygous; kernel yield; Kernels; Leaves; Life Sciences; maize; Metabolism; metabolome; Mutants; Mutation; Phenolic compounds; Phenols; Physiology; Plant growth; Plant mitochondria; Polypeptides; Productivity; Proteins; Quantitative genetics; homozygous; glutamate dehydrogenase; kernel yield; mutant; maize; metabolome; heterozygous; glutamate dehydrogenase; heterozygous; homozygous; kernel yield; maize; metabolome; mutant
• ISSN: 2223-7747; 2223-7747
• DOI: 10.3390/plants12142612

The agronomic potential of glutamate dehydrogenase 2 (GDH2) in maize kernel production was investigated by examining the impact of a mutation on the corresponding gene. -insertion homozygous and heterozygous mutant lines lacking GDH2 activity were isolated and characterized at the biochemical, physiological and agronomic levels. In comparison to the wild type and to the homozygous mutants, the heterozygous mutant plants were characterized by a decrease in the root amino acid content, whereas in the leaves an increase of a number of phenolic compounds was observed. On average, a 30 to 40% increase in kernel yield was obtained only in the heterozygous mutant lines when plants were grown in the field over two years. The importance of GDH2 in the control of plant productivity is discussed in relation to the physiological impact of the mutation on amino acid content, with primary carbon metabolism mostly occurring in the roots and secondary metabolism occurring in the leaves.