Recognizing Plant Physiology authors: Hongchao Li

Hongchao Li, first author of Maize plant architecture is regulated by the ethylene biosynthetic gene ZmACS7

Current Position: Ph.D. student, National Maize Improvement Center, China Agricultural University

Education: Ph.D. student in Crop Genetics and Breeding and M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension at China Agricultural University in Beijing, China; B.Sc. in Seed Science and Engineering at Shandong Agricultural University in Taian, China

Non-scientific Interests: music, reading, fitness, & climbing mountains

Brief bio: I developed a keen interest in biology since high school, and had a more in-depth study in plant science during undergraduate period. Using maize (Zea mays L.) as a model system, I received training in plant genetics and molecular biology during my Master’s and Doctoral degrees. I mainly worked on gene cloning of a plant architecture mutant of maize, Semidwarf3 (Sdw3), under the direction of Dr. Weiwei Jin. By combining positional cloning approach, genetic transformation, biochemical assays with transcriptome sequencing, we found that a transposon alters the C terminus of ZmACS7, a rate-limiting enzyme in ethylene biosynthesis. This alteration enhances the stability of this protein and ethylene level, which in turn leads to phenotypic variations in Sdw3. Our study might contribute to improving maize plant architecture and increasing maize adaptation to higher plant density.

姓名：李洪超

当前职位：中国农业大学，国家玉米改良中心，博士研究生

教育经历：中国农业大学作物遗传育种博士研究生，农业推广学硕士；山东农业大学种子科学与工程学士

兴趣爱好：听音乐、读书、健身、爬山

个人简历：我从高中就对生物产生了浓厚的兴趣，在本科期间对植物科学进行了更深入的学习。在攻读硕士和博士期间，以玉米为模式系统，我接受了植物遗传学和分子生物学方面的训练。在金危危老师的指导下，我主要从事了一个玉米株型突变体Sdw3的基因克隆。结合图位克隆、遗传转化、生化实验和转录组测序等方法，我们发现一个转座子改变了乙烯生物合成中的限速酶ZmACS7的C端。这种改变增强了ZmACS7蛋白的稳定性和乙烯水平，进而导致了Sdw3的表型变异。我们的研究可能有助于玉米株型的改良，提高玉米对高密度种植的适应性。