ZmPHO2‐Mediated Phosphorus Homeostasis Modulates PAMP‐Triggered Immunity and Disease Resistance in Maize
4 affiliations
- 1State Key Laboratory of High‐Efficiency Production of Wheat‐Maize Double Cropping, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy Henan Agricultural University Zhengzhou China
- 2Guizhou Institute of Tobacco Science Guiyang China
- 3Resources and Environment College of Henan Agricultural University Zhengzhou China
- 4The Shennong Laboratory Zhengzhou China
Abstract
Maize production is influenced by both macronutrient‐driven growth and resistance to various abiotic and biotic stresses. While phosphorus (P) is essential for maize growth and productivity, its role in maize immunity remains elusive. Here, we characterized a maize lesion mimic mutant, les33, which exhibits enhanced resistance to southern corn rust (SCR) and Curvularia leaf spot (CLS). Positional cloning indicated that ZmPHO2, encoding an E2 ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme involved in P homeostasis, was the causal gene. In les33, increased P level was accompanied by upregulated defence‐related gene expression and elevated accumulation of phenylalanine‐derived salicylic acid, lignin, and flavonoids, establishing a genetic link between P status and immune activation. Consistently, exogenous phosphate (Pi) application activates defence‐related gene expression and enhances resistance to SCR and CLS in a hydroponics system. In particular, flg22‐triggered defence marker gene expression, phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), and burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were enhanced by Pi application, indicating a positive role of P in potentiating PAMP‐triggered immunity (PTI). Moreover, field trials showed that application of Pi fertilizer improved SCR resistance in a Pi‐dose‐dependent manner, further supporting a critical role of P in maize immunity. Taken together, this study provides both genetic and agronomic evidence that P primes defence responses, and highlights optimized Pi fertilization as a practical strategy to coordinate growth and immunity in maize production.
Related
- Arsenic Resistance Protein BcArs2 Modulates Endogenous ROS Homeostasis in Infection Cushions to Enhance the Virulence of Botrytis cinerea Toward Host Plants
- Trichoderma harzianum M2 Induces Systemic Resistance to Fusarium Crown Rot and Remodels Root Architecture to Promote Phosphorus Uptake in Wheat
- Pantoea ananatis- triggered systemic resistance requires root sensing through the LORE receptor kinase in Arabidopsis
- Traditional Chinese medicine modulates immune homeostasis through the gut microbiota–microbial metabolite axis
- RNA-triggered Cas12a2 antibacterial activity and resistance plasmid degradation
BibTeX
@article{chen2026zmpho2mediated,
title = {{ZmPHO2‐Mediated Phosphorus Homeostasis Modulates PAMP‐Triggered Immunity and Disease Resistance in Maize}},
author = {Mengyao Chen and Chenyang Zhao and Wenli Zhang and Xiaorui Men and Bingyang Wang and Wanying Lv and Guo Li and Ye Xing and Jinjun Tian and Ying Wang and Jie Gao and Na Zhang and Ying Zhang and Yuying Wu and Xingbin Wang and Jie Zhang and Cuilan Shi and Xiaohuan Mu and Liping Xu and Yanwen Yu and Yihao Zhang and Kangxu Zhang and Qun Wang and Junqiang Ding and Hongen Liu and Jihua Tang and Jiankun Li and Mingyue Gou},
journal = {Plant Biotechnology Journal},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1111/pbi.70778},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70778},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - ZmPHO2‐Mediated Phosphorus Homeostasis Modulates PAMP‐Triggered Immunity and Disease Resistance in Maize
AU - Mengyao Chen
AU - Chenyang Zhao
AU - Wenli Zhang
AU - Xiaorui Men
AU - Bingyang Wang
AU - Wanying Lv
AU - Guo Li
AU - Ye Xing
AU - Jinjun Tian
AU - Ying Wang
AU - Jie Gao
AU - Na Zhang
AU - Ying Zhang
AU - Yuying Wu
AU - Xingbin Wang
AU - Jie Zhang
AU - Cuilan Shi
AU - Xiaohuan Mu
AU - Liping Xu
AU - Yanwen Yu
AU - Yihao Zhang
AU - Kangxu Zhang
AU - Qun Wang
AU - Junqiang Ding
AU - Hongen Liu
AU - Jihua Tang
AU - Jiankun Li
AU - Mingyue Gou
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Plant Biotechnology Journal
DO - 10.1111/pbi.70778
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70778
AB - Maize production is influenced by both macronutrient‐driven growth and resistance to various abiotic and biotic stresses. While phosphorus (P) is essential for maize growth and productivity, its role in maize immunity remains elusive. Here, we characterized a maize lesion mimic mutant, les33, which exhibits enhanced resistance to southern corn rust (SCR) and Curvularia leaf spot (CLS). Positional cloning indicated that ZmPHO2, encoding an E2 ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme involved in P homeostasis, was the causal gene. In les33, increased P level was accompanied by upregulated defence‐related gene expression and elevated accumulation of phenylalanine‐derived salicylic acid, lignin, and flavonoids, establishing a genetic link between P status and immune activation. Consistently, exogenous phosphate (Pi) application activates defence‐related gene expression and enhances resistance to SCR and CLS in a hydroponics system. In particular, flg22‐triggered defence marker gene expression, phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), and burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were enhanced by Pi application, indicating a positive role of P in potentiating PAMP‐triggered immunity (PTI). Moreover, field trials showed that application of Pi fertilizer improved SCR resistance in a Pi‐dose‐dependent manner, further supporting a critical role of P in maize immunity. Taken together, this study provides both genetic and agronomic evidence that P primes defence responses, and highlights optimized Pi fertilization as a practical strategy to coordinate growth and immunity in maize production.
SN - 1467-7644
SN - 1467-7652
ER -