ZmMS1 coordinates ROS homeostasis, lipid allocation, and male fertility for maize breeding applications
- 1Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize Bio‐breeding, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Research Institute of Biology and Agriculture University of Science and Technology Beijing Beijing 100083 China
- 2Zhongzhi International Institute of Agricultural Biosciences Beijing 100192 China
- 3Beijing Engineering Laboratory of Main Crop Bio‐Tech Breeding, Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Bio‐Tech Breeding Beijing Solidwill Sci‐Tech Co. Ltd. Beijing 100192 China
Abstract
Identifying male‐sterile genes and developing biotechnology‐based male‐sterility systems are crucial for advancing hybrid maize breeding. However, this progress is hampered by the limited number of characterized key regulators and their incomplete mechanistic understanding in male sterility, as well as fertility instability of male‐sterile lines and a lack of efficient maintainer lines in maize. Here, we elucidate the multifaceted roles of ZmMS1, an LBD transcription repressor. ZmMS1 coordinates timely tapetal PCD by repressing ROS‐scavenging genes to regulate anther ROS homeostasis, while its DNA‐binding activity is redox‐sensitive, suggesting a potential redox‐dependent feedback mechanism. In addition, ZmMS1 balances lipid allocation between anther cuticle and pollen exine by directly repressing sporopollenin biosynthesis and indirectly promoting cutin/wax formation. Constitutive overexpression of ZmMs1 induces dwarfism associated with GA and ABA homeostasis, and produces ~50% sterile and small pollen grains in maize and rice, offering a potential route for dwarf and male‐sterile breeding. Leveraging the findings that loss and precocious expression of ZmMs1 cause recessive and dominant sterility, respectively, we develop a non‐transgenic multi‐control sterility system and a dominant genic male‐sterility system, both showing stable and complete sterility across diverse backgrounds without yield penalty, thereby providing flexible options for hybrid maize breeding. Our findings reveal that ZmMS1, as a redox‐sensitive transcription factor, regulates male fertility with previously unrevealed mechanisms, and provide practical tools for efficient hybrid maize breeding.
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BibTeX
@article{hou2026zmms1,
title = {{ZmMS1 coordinates ROS homeostasis, lipid allocation, and male fertility for maize breeding applications}},
author = {Quancan Hou and Xueli An and Zhenying Dong and Biao Ma and Suowei Wu and Ke Xie and Ziwen Li and Tingwei Yan and Yilin Jiang and Taotao Zhu and Bin Ma and Lina Zhao and Yan Long and Xiangyuan Wan},
journal = {Journal of Integrative Plant Biology},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1111/jipb.70303},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.70303},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - ZmMS1 coordinates ROS homeostasis, lipid allocation, and male fertility for maize breeding applications
AU - Quancan Hou
AU - Xueli An
AU - Zhenying Dong
AU - Biao Ma
AU - Suowei Wu
AU - Ke Xie
AU - Ziwen Li
AU - Tingwei Yan
AU - Yilin Jiang
AU - Taotao Zhu
AU - Bin Ma
AU - Lina Zhao
AU - Yan Long
AU - Xiangyuan Wan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/26
JO - Journal of Integrative Plant Biology
DO - 10.1111/jipb.70303
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.70303
AB - Identifying male‐sterile genes and developing biotechnology‐based male‐sterility systems are crucial for advancing hybrid maize breeding. However, this progress is hampered by the limited number of characterized key regulators and their incomplete mechanistic understanding in male sterility, as well as fertility instability of male‐sterile lines and a lack of efficient maintainer lines in maize. Here, we elucidate the multifaceted roles of ZmMS1, an LBD transcription repressor. ZmMS1 coordinates timely tapetal PCD by repressing ROS‐scavenging genes to regulate anther ROS homeostasis, while its DNA‐binding activity is redox‐sensitive, suggesting a potential redox‐dependent feedback mechanism. In addition, ZmMS1 balances lipid allocation between anther cuticle and pollen exine by directly repressing sporopollenin biosynthesis and indirectly promoting cutin/wax formation. Constitutive overexpression of ZmMs1 induces dwarfism associated with GA and ABA homeostasis, and produces ~50% sterile and small pollen grains in maize and rice, offering a potential route for dwarf and male‐sterile breeding. Leveraging the findings that loss and precocious expression of ZmMs1 cause recessive and dominant sterility, respectively, we develop a non‐transgenic multi‐control sterility system and a dominant genic male‐sterility system, both showing stable and complete sterility across diverse backgrounds without yield penalty, thereby providing flexible options for hybrid maize breeding. Our findings reveal that ZmMS1, as a redox‐sensitive transcription factor, regulates male fertility with previously unrevealed mechanisms, and provide practical tools for efficient hybrid maize breeding.
SN - 1672-9072
SN - 1744-7909
ER -