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Regulatory Role of AGC Genes in Heat Stress Adaptation in Corn (Zea mays)

Abdul Rehman, Khairiah Alwutayd, Dikhnah Alshehri, Ibtisam Alsudays, Farrukh Azeem , Shahroz Rahman, Muhammad Abid, Asad Shah

Abstract

Heat stress represents a significant environmental challenge that restricts Zea mays (corn) growth and yield on a global scale. Within the plant kingdom, the AGC gene family, encoding a group of protein kinases, has emerged as crucial players in various stress responses. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of AGC genes in Z. mays under heat-stress conditions remains elusive. A genome-wide analysis was done using bioinformatics techniques to identify 39 AGC genes in Z. mays , categorizing them into three subfamilies based on their conserved domains. We investigated their phylogenetic relationships, gene structures (including intron-exon configurations), and expression patterns. These genes are likely involved in diverse signaling pathways, fulfilling distinct roles when exposed to heat stress conditions. Notably, most ZmAGC1.5, ZmAGC1.9, ZmNDR3, ZmNDR5, and ZmIRE3 exhibited significant changes in expression levels under heat stress, featuring a high G-box ratio. Furthermore, we pinpointed a subset of AGC genes displaying highly coordinated expression, implying their potential involvement in the heat stress response pathway. Our study offers valuable insights into the contribution of AGC genes to Z. mays 's heat stress response, thus facilitating the development of heat-tolerant Z. mays varieties.

FP23282  Accepted 19 April 2024

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