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Background: Drought stress during flowering of maize (Zea mays L.) frequently results in decreased kernel setting, leading to grain yield depressions. Plasma membrane (PM) H+‐ATPase was identified as a key enzyme responsible for supply of assimilates to the developing maize kernels shortly after pollination. The activity of this enzyme was strongly inhibited under salt stress, pointing to an involvement in kernel abortion. Aims: This study aimed to determine whether also drought stress causes inhibition of PM H+‐ATPase in developing maize kernels shortly after pollination, leading to diminished hexose uptake and finally kernel abortion. The key questions are as follows: What are the limiting factors for grain yield production of maize plants facing drought? Are physiologically relevant parameters, quantified at flowering, reflected by yield determinants at maturity? Methods: Maize plants were cultivated using the container technique, and drought stress was imposed during 3 weeks bracketing flowering compared to well‐watered conditions throughout the entire growth period. The developing kernels were harvested 2 days after pollination, and PM vesicles were isolated and purified using two‐phase partitioning. Results: Water deficit caused a significant decrease in grain yield at maturity (−35%), which was determined by a reduced kernel number (−42%). Source limitation in the developing kernels under stress could be excluded. Acid invertase activity was unaffected by water deficit. Hexose availability was also no limiting factor for kernel setting and development. However, Vmax of in vitro hydrolytic activity of PM H+‐ATPase was significantly decreased in the developing maize kernels under drought stress and the maximal pH gradient at the PM was also significantly reduced. The observed inhibiting effects on PM H+‐ATPase were mainly of quantitative nature, as a lower number of proton pumps was present in the kernel PM. Qualitative changes of the enzyme (activation energy Ea, Michaelis constant Km) due to drought were not observed. Conclusions: The lower pH gradient probably decreased the proton‐driven transport of hexoses by carriers into the cytosol of the kernel cells, leading to kernel starvation and eventually contributing to kernel abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indonesian wide range of biogeophysical conditions lead to Genotype×Environment interaction (G×E). Multiple stability analysis methods can provide more comprehensive and reliable information about the G×E. The objective of this research was to determine the yield stability of seven promising maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids (SJI 1, SJI 2, SJI 3, SJI 4, SJI 5, SJI 6, SJI 7) and three control cultivars (Pioneer 36, Bisi 18 and Pertiwi 6) using Francis and Kannenberg, Finlay and Wilkinson, Eberhart and Russel, Shukla and GGE biplot analyses. The hybrids and cultivars were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates in 10 locations in the dry season 2022. The results indicated that hybrid SJI 001 had the highest yield (12.57 t ha-1) and was stable according to the five stability analyses. On the other hand, hybrid SJI 002 (8.36 t ha-1) performed well in unfavourable environments, while hybrid SJI 006 (12.02 t ha-1) and 'Pertiwi 6' (11.48 t ha-1) performed well in favourable ones. In addition, GGE biplot analysis revealed that SJI 006 was well adapted to Prambon and 'Pertiwi 6' to Bajeng. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress represents a significant environmental challenge that restricts maize (Zea mays) 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 , categorising 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 signalling 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. Rising global temperature is negatively affecting maize yield. Current genome-wide analysis identified and characterised AGC genes, one of the major contributors of plant stress response. Heat stress mediated differential expression of AGCs (using RNA-seq and real time qPCR) underscore the potential for developing heat-tolerant maize varieties by understanding the intricate workings of these genes. This article belongs to the Collection Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GEX2 protein is expressed in the maize gamete membranes and is necessary during fertilization at the stage of contact (adhesion) of gamete membranes. Knockout of GEX2 gene can presumably lead to impaired fertilization and, as a result, to the formation of matroclinic haploid maize embryos. The purpose of this study is to analyze the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the GEX2 gene after PEG-mediated transfection of maize protoplasts by ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes with different gRNAs. For the first time, constructs for CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the maize GEX2 gene have been created, the effectiveness of which has been proven on protoplasts and reaches 10.7%, depending on the selected gRNA and the ratio and number of components in the RNP complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water deficiency is one of the biggest problems affecting arable areas in the world and has been the main factor limiting crop productivity. In this way, alternatives are sought to help maintain plant growth in these conditions, for which vitamins can be listed as possible beneficial compounds to alleviate this abiotic stress. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of the exogenous application of thiamine, nicotinamide and pyridoxine in plants of maize submitted to water deficit. The treatments consisted of the application of three vitamins (thiamine, niacin and pyridoxine) at a concentration of 100 mg L− 1, in two stages of maize plants development (emergence and V4) and control treatment. After 48 h of vitamins application to plants in stage V4, irrigation was suspended. Vitamins application provided an increase in plant performance for the variables transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, net assimilation rate, carboxylation efficiency, plant height and shoot dry matter mass. The time of application influenced the response of the plant to water deficit. Vitamins application acts positively on the protection of plants and consequently on the maintenance of their development when they are subjected to water stress. It is also noteworthy that the vitamins application on plants in the V4 stage is more advantageous, increasing the effectiveness of the treatments. Highlights: Vitamins act to protect the photosystem. The application of vitamins acts in the recovery of plants after water stress. The growth potential of maize plants increases with the application of vitamins in V4 stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Popcorn (Zea mays L.), the most popular snack in the world, is known for being high fiber and healthy food. Most popcorn cultivars have low yields and are highly susceptible to various diseases. Southern corn leaf blight (SCLB) or Maydis Leaf Blight (MLB) caused by Bipolaris maydis cause significant yield losses in maize throughout the world including some parts of the Indian subcontinent. A low popping volume (LPV) composite (Bajaura popcorn developed by HPKV, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India) grown in the foothills and hilly region of Himachal Pradesh is resistant to SCLB and a high popping volume (HPV) inbred line introduced from the USA and commercially utilized in India has a high popping volume (HPV) but is highly susceptible to SCLB. The SSR molecular markers bnlg1331, bnlg1520 and bnlg1836 linked to three popping volume QTLs qPVEU-1, qPVEU-2 and qPVEU-5 located on chromosomes 1, 2 and 5 had additive gene action with the positive alleles for popping contributed by HPV were used in marker-assisted selection. The disease severity or percent disease index (PDI) was calculated from the SCLB rating score at intervals of 15 days up to 45 days of second inoculation. The PDI was varied from 12 to 80% among the BC2F2:3 populations. The parent HPV and LPV showed disease severity of 80% and 20%, respectively. A total of 27 lines of the BC2F3 population showed a disease severity up to 42%. The area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) values were calculated from PDI at different intervals after inoculation and ranged from 480–1890% for parents and 1080–2040% among the BC2F2 population for SCLB. The mean for 27 BC2F3 lines was 999 ± 32.57 with 16% of the coefficient of variance. The parent LPV was resistant to SCLB and its AUDPC was up to 480% while HPV was highly susceptible with 1890% AUDPC. From 27 BC2F2:3 self-progenies, 144 plants were screened for high-popping volume QTLs using linked molecular markers. Out of 144 BC2F2:3 plants, 62 were selected based on molecular markers linked to popping volume QTLs and disease reaction for SCLB. All the 62 selfed BC2F2:3 families (cobs) were harvested separately and evaluated for popping volume along with yield contributing traits. Out of 62 plants, 19 were homozygous for all three popping volume QTLs markers with high popping volume and the remaining 43 plants were segregating for popping volume QTL markers. These segregating plants were advanced in the subsequent Kharif season to evaluate in a larger area to screen homozygous plants for high-popping volume QTLs. The homozygous lines of BC2F3 progenies with three high popping volume QTLs and resistance to SCLB were selfed. The selected plants from the selfed BC2F3 population were allowed for open pollination to develop a composite variety with high popping volume and SCLB resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Plant Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Copyright of Journal of Education & Science is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Future breeding is likely to involve the detection and removal of deleterious alleles, which are mutations that negatively affect crop fitness. However, little is known about the prevalence of such mutations and their effects on phenotypic traits in the context of modern crop breeding. To address this, we examined the number and frequency of deleterious mutations in 350 elite maize inbred lines developed over the past few decades in China and the United States. Our findings reveal an accumulation of weakly deleterious mutations and a decrease in strongly deleterious mutations, indicating the dominant effects of genetic drift and purifying selection for the two types of mutations, respectively. We also discovered that slightly deleterious mutations, when at lower frequencies, were more likely to be heterozygous in the developed hybrids. This is consistent with complementation as a potential explanation for heterosis. Subsequently, we found that deleterious mutations accounted for more of the variation in phenotypic traits than nondeleterious mutations with matched minor allele frequencies, especially for traits related to leaf angle and flowering time. Moreover, we detected fewer deleterious mutations in the promoter and gene body regions of differentially expressed genes across breeding eras than in nondifferentially expressed genes. Overall, our results provide a comprehensive assessment of the prevalence and impact of deleterious mutations in modern maize breeding and establish a useful baseline for future maize improvement efforts.

This study aimed to identify the best combination of corn technologies and varieties to increase yield, a study case in Torowang, South Sulawesi. The findings of this study used a split-plot design with three replications. The cultivation technology package is composed of planting spacing, chemical fertilizer, and biofertilizer, with three levels of treatment. Meanwhile, varieties treatment as subplot consisted of six varieties of treatment: Nasa 29, Bisi 18, Sinhas 1, NK7328, Pioneer 27, and ADV 313. The study determined the effectiveness of six agronomy and three chlorophyll pigment characters. Based on the results, varietal diversity dominates the differences in growth traits, both morphological and physiological. Varietal potential differs from the diversity of crop technology packages, which show no significant effect on all growth traits. However, the interaction between the growth package and varieties shows a significant effect, indicating that the crop technology package significantly affects the growth response. Yield was significantly correlated with plant height, 1,000 grain weight, peeled ear weight, chlorophyll content meter (CCM) chlorophyll, and NDVI-UAV. The total chlorophyll trait based on CCM showed a significant correlation with yield but did not correlate with NDVI-UAV. The study concluded that Pioneer 27 and ADV 313 varieties are recommended for cultivation in Takalar, with the combination of planting space of 75 × 20 cm + N:P:K fertilizer dose of 200:100:50 kg ha−1 + 25 kg of KNO3 + 5 cc L−1 of Eco-Farming fertilizer to Pioneer 27 (Pc2V5) recommended. Further dissemination is required in other regions.

Associations between different groups of sweet corn traits enable both the direct and indirect selection of plants, thus increasing the chances of success in breeding programs. This study aimed to estimate the relationships between vegetative and productive traits, as well as genotypic values, using canonical correlations and mixed models. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, with ten genotypes and four replications. The following traits were assessed: plant height, main ear insertion height, yield of ears with and without straw, grain mass, ear length, ear diameter and percentage of commercial ears. The significant correlations obtained in the first canonical pair indicate that an increase in height and main ear insertion height result in a decrease in the percentage of commercial ears and yield of ears without straw, being necessary to select plants with plant height values of less than 2.0 m and first ear insertion height of less than 1.0 m to increase them. It was observed that the plant height and main ear insertion height have the highest heritability, indicating the possibility of genetic gain from the artificial selection.

Abstract The objective of this work was to propose the use of traditional models based on distributional regression models to analyze maize productivity. The experiment was carried out in an alpha lattice design, with three replicates and 24 blocks. Data used refer to 102 maize plants from the permanent collection of the Centro de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico para a Agricultura of the Universidade Federal de Lavras. For the maize productivity evaluation, the following explanatory variables were used: weight of 100 seed, plant height, ear height, and days to maturation. The initial analyses involved the fitting of four distributions (gamma, generalized gamma, inverse Gaussian, and generalized inverse Gaussian) to the data, in which the gamma distribution showed the best fit based on the Akaike and Bayesian information criteria (AIC and BIC). Cob height has a considerable influence on the productivity variability because as cob height increases, the productivity variability decreases, whereas the covariates weight of 100 seed and days to maturity explain the increasing average of the productivity. The residual analysis shows that the model based on gamma distribution is suitable for explaining the data and providing useful insights for agricultural research and practice.

A Epagri dispõe de três variedades de milho de polinização aberta (VPA), SCS154 Fortuna, SCS155 Catarina e SCS156 Colorado, que são bem aceitas por produtores de grãos, mas ainda pouco utilizadas para produção de silagem. Com o objetivo de verificar o desempenho dessas variedades para esse fim, foi conduzido um experimento na safra 2021/22 em Canoinhas, SC, em delineamento em blocos ao acaso, em um fatorial 2x4, sendo duas épocas de plantio (segunda quinzena de setembro e segunda quinzena de outubro) x as três VPA + uma variedade transgênica recomendada para silagem, totalizando oito tratamentos, com quatro repetições. No estádio R4 foram avaliados indicadores morfológicos (altura de planta e de inserção da espiga, diâmetro do colmo, peso verde e a proporção de espiga, folha e colmo). Em seguida, as plantas de cada parcela foram cortadas, picadas na ensiladeira e incubadas em minissilos de PVC, que após 90 dias foram enviados para análise da composição bromatológica. Houve efeito de época de plantio para todos os indicadores morfológicos e produtivos avaliados. Foi verificado aumento da altura de plantas nas três variedades de milho VPA no plantio de outubro, fato não observado na variedade transgênica. A composição química diferiu entre os cultivares, mas não foi afetada pelas épocas de plantio, à exceção da proteína bruta. Todos os cultivares apresentaram padrões dentro dos parâmetros recomendados para silagem de qualidade e características favoráveis ao processo de ensilagem.

Casparian strip membrane domain proteins like (CASPL), exhibit profound associations with root development, stress responsiveness and mineral element uptake in plants. Nonetheless, a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the ZmCASPL gene family in maize remains unreported. In the study, we have identified 47 ZmCASPL members at the whole-genome level, systematically classifying them into six distinct groups. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that the same group of ZmCASPL contains similar gene structures and conserved motifs. Duplication events showed whole genome duplication (WGD) and tandem duplication (TD) contribute to the generation of the ZmCASPL gene family together in maize, but the former plays a more prominent role. Furthermore, we observed that most ZmCASPL genes contain MYB-binding sites (CAACCA), which are associated with the Casparian strip. Utilizing RNA-seq data, we found that ZmCASPL21 and ZmCASPL47 are specifically highly expressed only in the roots. This finding implies that ZmCASPL21 and ZmCASPL47 may be involved in the Casparian strip development. Additionally, RNA-seq analysis illuminated that drought, salt, heat, cold stresses, low nitrogen and phosphorus conditions, as well as pathogen infection, significantly impact the expression patterns of ZmCASPL genes. RT-qPCR revealed that ZmCASPL 5/13/25/44 genes showed different expression patterns under PEG and NaCl treatments. Collectively, these findings provide a robust theoretical foundation for further investigations into the functional roles of the ZmCASPL gene family in maize.

A incessante busca por medidas mitigadoras, visando a redução dos impactos ambientais e aprimoramento da qualidade do solo e das lavouras, está cada vez mais em evidência. Visando encontrar alternativas que minimizem os custos associados à adubação mineral, considerados um dos aspectos mais dispendiosos da produção, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar o desempenho produtivo da adubação verde com a utilização de Crotalária Spectabilis visando sua aplicação na rotação de culturas junto ao milho e avaliar seu impacto na melhoria das características físicas e químicas do solo. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi DBC, com 4 tratamentos (Testemunha, Mineral 100%, Crotalária Spectabilis + Mineral 50% e apenas Crotalária Spectabilis), quatro blocos sendo a cultura utilizada no sistema o milho. As variáveis avaliadas foram: altura total e da inserção da espiga, diâmetro do colmo e espiga, tamanho e número de fileiras da espiga, produtividade e seus custos. Para verificar efeito da adubação foi realizado a ANOVA, e as médias comparadas por Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo demonstraram maiores valores das variáveis analisadas para o grupo Mineral 100%, seguido de Mineral 50% + Crotalária Spectabilis, Crotalária Spectabilis e Testemunha, demonstrando que a adubação mineral ainda é responsável por maiores índices na produtividade do milho. Contudo, a adubação verde associada com a adubação mineral traz resultados que se aproximam da adubação 100% mineral, tornando-se uma alternativa para a diminuição dos custos de produção, além dos inúmeros benefícios oferecidos pela Crotalária Spectabilis, que tem a capacidade de atuar na fixação de nitrogênio, melhorar a qualidade do solo devido a deposição de matéria orgânica que aumenta a absorção de água e também de nutrientes, visto a suas raízes profundas, além de atuar contra os nematoides presentes no solo.

In the current context of rapid climate change, water scarcity and soil poverty are becoming increasingly alarming, leading to growing losses of 30–50% of global agricultural production. It is imperative to find environmentally-friendly approaches for improving plant tolerance to drastic conditions, particularly in arid and semi-arid Mediterranean regions. Biostimulants based on symbiotic microbes are emerging as effective strategies for improving tolerance and agricultural productivity. This study aims to evaluate the effects of single and double inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (My) and plant growth-promoting bacteria (Ba) on the growth, physiological and biochemical traits of maize crop grown in compost (Co) amended soil under two irrigation regimes: well-watered (WW: 100% of crop evapotranspiration [ETc]) and drought-stressed (DS: 50% ETc) using drip irrigation system. Reducing irrigation to 50% reduced shoot dry weight (SDW), root dry weight (RDW), 1,000-grains weight (TGW) and grain yield (Y). However, Ba alone increased SDW by 63%, while CoMyBa improved RDW, TGW and Y by 197, 43 and 175%, respectively compared with the control under DS conditions. Dual inoculation boosted root colonization intensity, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), total chlorophyll and leaf area of maize seedlings in compost-amended soil, compared to the controls. The application of Ba significantly reduced hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde by 46%, in maize seedlings grown in compost-amended soil, compared to the controls under DS. Our results indicated that My and Ba significantly boost the ability of maize to tolerate drought by improving water supply and physiology and stimulating the accumulation of organic and inorganic osmolytes, as well as improving the properties of soils such as cation exchange capacity particularly amended by Co. The dual inoculations were the most effective and represent an environmentally-friendly and relatively inexpensive approach to optimizing agricultural production and soil restoration programs in Mediterranean regions.

The tropical maize breeding for low-P tolerance and good performance under low-P stress environments can be achieved through selection based on root morphology traits at seedling stage. Here, we assessed the genotypic variation and genetic diversity of a panel of 151 tropical maize inbred lines for root and shoot seedling traits, investigated the relationship among traits and selected a set of promising inbred lines for low-P tolerance and performance. We evaluated the inbred lines at seedling stage in a greenhouse experiment under two conditions: applied P (AP) and non-applied P (NAP). A mixed model approach was used to estimate variance components and predict the genotypic values of each inbred line. The genetic diversity among inbred lines based on root and shoot traits was assessed, and correlations were estimated between tested traits under AP and NAP. Our panel of inbred lines showed huge genetic variability for all traits and presented large genetic diversity under both P conditions. Variance components due to the inbred line × P condition interaction were also highly significant (P < 0.01) for all traits. Root dry weight (RDW) was positively associated with stalk dimeter (SD), shoot dry weight (SDW) and root length, volume, and area under both P conditions. Also, the SD and SDW were associated with most root traits under AP. Based on low-P tolerance and performance indices, we selected a set of top 20 inbred lines to be used in our maize breeding program. We therefore concluded that there is a significant genetic diversity in the tropical maize inbred lines which have the genetic potential to be use in association mapping studies and also to develop improved low-P tolerant and P-efficient hybrids and maize breeding populations for low-P stress environments.

The semiarid region of Pernambuco produces 99.5% of the forage corn, considering that 93.8% of the ruminant herd is produced in this region of the Brazilian Northeast. The Agreste Meridional is located in this region, which presents seasonality in production due to water deficit. Silage is one of the adopted roughage conservation strategies, with corn being the forage that presents the best indicators when fed to animals. Agronomic aspects are often neglected, considering that the performance of cultivars may vary with the growing environment. The objective of this research was the introduction and evaluation of corn cultivars for the production for whole-plant silage in the Agreste Meridional of Pernambuco, Brazil. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, with seven treatments, of which five non transgenic cultivars (‘Alagoano’, ‘Nordestino’, ‘São Luís’, ‘PV2 Viçosense’ and ‘PV1 Branca’) and two transgenic hybrids (‘LG 6030 VT PRO2’ and ‘AS 1573 YG’). It was observed that all genotypes showed susceptibility to Spodoptera frugiperda and Helicoverpa zea, except for the ‘AS 1573 YG’ hybrid, due to the Bt technology. The biometric characters of the genotypes were influenced by the environment. However, with yield of 10,537 and 10,666 kg ha-1 (dry matter), the genotypes ‘Alagoano’ and ‘AS 1573 YG’, respectively, were selected for cultivation in the Agreste Meridional region for the production of silage, which can be used in intensive production systems or family farming.

As doses de P a serem aplicadas na cultura do milho comumente são elevadas em decorrência do baixo aproveitamento do nutriente devido a sua adsorção ao solo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso das bactérias solubilizadoras de fosfato Bacillus megaterium e Bacillus subtilis, e do fungo micorrízico Rhizophagus intraradices, bem como a interação entre eles, e a possibilidade de redução da adubação fosfatada na cultura do milho. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, em um fatorial 4x3, sendo o fator A composto por diferentes microrganismos solubilizadores de P (micorrizas e BiomaPhos®) e o fator B composto por diferentes doses de P (100, 75 e 50% da dose recomendada). A redução das doses de P, sem o uso de inoculantes, resultou em menor área foliar e teor de clorofila, porém não foi observado efeito significativo na altura das plantas. Nos componentes de rendimento número de grãos por espiga, peso de mil grãos e produtividade, a inoculação compensou a redução das doses. A aplicação de 50% da dose de P juntamente com a inoculação das bactérias foi o tratamento com maior margem bruta, sendo viável para a redução da adubação mineral.

Maize is one of the most cultivated cereals worldwide. Despite the low nutrient availability in the soil, high amounts of fertilizers are applied causing economic and environmental impacts. Then, Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) as Fluorescent Pseudomonas can be utilized as an alternative. The present work aims to analyze the effect of Pseudomonas isolates on maize development and production and verify the relationship between growth mechanisms and IAA production. Sixteen Pseudomonas isolates were tested in vitro to produce IAA, ACC deaminase, siderophores, and solubilize Fe and Al phosphates. Three isolates (CBSAL02, CBSAL05, and CBSAL06) were selected for the field experiment, in which an A. brasilense inoculant was the control, generating five treatments with four replications. More than 50% of the isolates demonstrated the tested mechanisms. Only CBSAL05 did not produce siderophore or could fix N. Inoculations with A. brasilense and Pseudomonas isolates increased leaf N content among the selected isolates. The CBSAL06 isolate increased productivity, thus demonstrating the potential use as an inoculant.

Abstract Maize is a crop of global economic importance and is widely cultivated throughout the Brazilian territory. The use of biostimulants can increase yield and improve crop yield. Unmanned aerial vehicles can be employed in arable areas, allowing their use in an economically way. This study to evaluate the use of biostimulant and the best application timing using photogrammetric indexes in maize, and indicate the most suitable plant index for yield increase through a Pearson's correlation. The DJI Drone coupled with RGB camera was used, and the images were processed through the AgisoftPhotoscan® software to generate the orthomosaic, and the QGIS® software version 3.4.15 with GRASS was used to generate thematic maps with the classification of the indexes of vegetation (NGRDI, EXG, SAVI, TGI, GLI, RI). A matrix of Pearson correlation coefficients between the variables was also created, and the results were analyzed with the R software. In general, the products Pyroligneous Extract (PE) and the hormonal product (HP) were the best for the two seasons studied. However, the HP was the best product to mitigate plant water stress in the dry period. Application at phenological stage V3 showed the lowest growth in the rainy season and in application to the seeds in the dry season. Dose 4 of the pyroligneous extract increased productivity in the rainy season and level 3.4 for the hormone product. Among the indexes evaluated, only the SAVI index showed significant differences between the others and showed significance for productivity in the two periods.

The germination of seedlings is hindered in soil due to the excessive presence of petroleum hydrocarbons resulting from crude oil spill. This contamination not only pollutes the environment but also renders it unsuitable for habitation, inhibits animal grazing, and results in the degradation of natural beauty and aesthetic appeal. In this work, the ecotoxicological effect of nanoremediated soil previously contaminated with crude oil was assessed. Petroleum hydrocarbons were eliminated from crude oil contaminated soil through the utilization of nanomaterial adsorbents namely: Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs), MWCNTs + IONP (Iron Oxide Nanoparticle), and P.N.C (Polymer Nanocomposite) followed by the cultivation of Zea mays seedling on the nanoremediated soils then observed over a period of seven days. Both the contaminated and treated samples were evaluated for their respective functional groups, structural morphology and elemental compositions using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (ED XRF) techniques. The seedlings were then harvested, and the lengths of their leaves, shoots, and roots were measured and recorded. Results indicated a germination rate of over 70 % achieved for seedlings cultivated in the nanoremediated soils, in contrast to a germination rate of only 40 % for seedlings grown in untreated crude oil contaminated soil. Seedlings from the soil treated with P.N.C exhibited the most favorable growth parameters, with leaf, shoot, and root lengths measuring 7.64, 4.83, and 8.04 cm respectively. In comparison, seedlings germinated in crude oil contaminated soil displayed measurements of 3.4, 2.79, and 5.32 cm for leaf, shoot, and root lengths, respectively. The pH levels of the treated soils were raised from 5.7 to 6.9, 6.3, and 6.7 for MWCNTs only, MWCNTs + IONP, and P.N.C, respectively. This augmentation had a positive impact on the uptake of nutrients through the root hairs. Additionally, it was noted that the presence of MWCNTs did not impede the germination and growth of Zea mays seedlings. This technique exhibits considerable potential for widespread adoption by farmers, oil companies, and environmental agencies as a rapid and effective nano-remediation method.

A significant role of the plant is played by the transcription factor FARL, which is light signal transduction as well as plant growth and development. Despite being transposases, FARL has developed a variety of dominant biological actions in evolution and speciation. On the other hand, little is known about the Zea mays FARL protein family. This study identifies and characterizes fifteen ZmFARL genes genome-wide, and RNA sequencing data was used to profile their expression. 105 FARL proteins from five plant species were classified into five groups based on sequence alignment and phylogeny. The ZmFARL genes’ exon–intron and motif distribution were conserved based on their evolutionary group. The fifteen ZmFARL genes were distributed over seven of the ten Z. mays chromosomes, although no duplication was discovered. Cis-element analysis reveals that ZmFARL genes play a variety of activities, including tissue-specific, stress- and hormone-responsive expressions. Furthermore, the results of the RNA sequencing used to profile expression showed that the genes ZmFARL2 and ZmFARL5 were much more expressed than other genes in various tissues, particularly in leaf characteristics. The identification of likely genes involved in cellular activity in Z. mays and related species will be aided by the characterization of the FARL genes.

Although a major grain crop, maize is a deficit in Lysine (Lys), which is one of the essential amino acids (EAAs). Several attempts of molecular biology, conventional breeding, marker-assisted breeding, and single/multiple transgenesis have significantly increased Lys content in maize seed. However, till now, no commercial high-Lys maize for human consumption is available in the global market. Therefore, alternative strategies are needed that be adopted over the above-mentioned techniques to develop high-Lys maize. In addition to microbes, circuit-enabled programming-based synthetic biology has significantly improved the desired characteristics of crops including maize as synthetic mini chromosomes have already been built and transferred into maize. The above technology is advantageous as it is a precisely guided artificially controlled system that acts better in addition to the natural system or over the natural system. During the designing and programming of the synthetic genetic circuit for high-Lys maize, a deep understanding of natural Lys biosynthesis pathways, Lys metabolism, metabolic flux, metabolic interconnections, transporters, and transcription factor, post-translational protein regulation are needed. Hence, major genes in aspartate (Asp) pathway, like dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHPS), aspartate kinase (AK), Lys-ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase (LKR/SDH) should be critically analyzed in maize before incorporating these into high-Lys synthetic genetic circuit. Indeed, a prototype of the synthetic high-Lys genetic circuits must have a synthetic switch for precise regulation of multiplex gene expression, memory circuits, synthetic boolean logic gates, and synthetic intercellular communication systems. For proper transformation of the synthetic high-Lys genetic circuit, the landing pad should be specific. Then, precise monitoring and remote regulation of the circuit over several generations might be done to obtain stable programmed high-Lys synthetic maize. Therefore, considering the current advancement of single/multiple transgenesis, conventional breeding, marker-assisted breeding that successfully increased maize Lys, precise programming-based synthetic genetic circuits should be designed for getting high-Lys maize following the mechanism of how the synthetic genetic circuits would work in the maize genome and its remote control. These need deep understanding in maize biology, integration of previously published transgenesis for high-Lys maize, in silico, in vitro and in vivo experiments for successful development of programming-based synthetic genetic circuit enabled high-Lys maize.

Different plant species within the grasses were parallel targets of domestication, giving rise to crops with distinct evolutionary histories and traits1. Key traits that distinguish these species are mediated by specialized cell types2. Here we compare the transcriptomes of root cells in three grass species-Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor and Setaria viridis. We show that single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing provide complementary readouts of cell identity in dicots and monocots, warranting a combined analysis. Cell types were mapped across species to identify robust, orthologous marker genes. The comparative cellular analysis shows that the transcriptomes of some cell types diverged more rapidly than those of others-driven, in part, by recruitment of gene modules from other cell types. The data also show that a recent whole-genome duplication provides a rich source of new, highly localized gene expression domains that favour fast-evolving cell types. Together, the cell-by-cell comparative analysis shows how fine-scale cellular profiling can extract conserved modules from a pan transcriptome and provide insight on the evolution of cells that mediate key functions in crops.

Cell divisions are accurately positioned to generate cells of the correct size and shape. In plant cells, the new cell wall is built in the middle of the cell by vesicles trafficked along an antiparallel microtubule and a microfilament array called the phragmoplast. The phragmoplast expands toward a specific location at the cell cortex called the division site, but how it accurately reaches the division site is unclear. We observed microtubule arrays that accumulate at the cell cortex during the telophase transition in maize (Zea mays) leaf epidermal cells. Before the phragmoplast reaches the cell cortex, these cortical-telophase microtubules transiently interact with the division site. Increased microtubule plus end capture and pausing occur when microtubules contact the division site-localized protein TANGLED1 or other closely associated proteins. Microtubule capture and pausing align the cortical microtubules perpendicular to the division site during telophase. Once the phragmoplast reaches the cell cortex, cortical-telophase microtubules are incorporated into the phragmoplast primarily by parallel bundling. The addition of microtubules into the phragmoplast promotes fine-tuning of the positioning at the division site. Our hypothesis is that division site-localized proteins such as TANGLED1 organize cortical microtubules during telophase to mediate phragmoplast positioning at the final division plane.

Several species in the oomycete genus Peronosclerospora cause downy mildew on maize and can result in significant yield losses in Asia. Bio-surveillance of these pathogens is a high priority to prevent epidemics on maize in the United States and consequent damage to the US economy. The unresolved taxonomy and dearth of molecular resources for Peronosclerospora spp. hinder these efforts. P. sorghi is a pathogen of sorghum and maize with a global distribution, for which limited diversity has been detected in the southern USA. We characterized the genome, transcriptome, and mitogenome of an isolate, representing the US pathotype 6. The highly homozygous genome was assembled using 10× Genomics linked reads and scaffolded using Hi-C into 13 chromosomes. The total assembled length was 303.2 Mb, larger than any other oomycete previously assembled. The mitogenome was 38 kb, similar in size to other oomycetes, although it had a unique gene order. Nearly 20,000 genes were annotated in the nuclear genome, more than described for other downy mildew causing oomycetes. The 13 chromosomes of P. sorghi were highly syntenic with the 17 chromosomes of Peronospora effusa with conserved centromeric regions and distinct chromosomal fusions. The increased assembly size and gene count of P. sorghi is due to extensive retrotransposition, resulting in putative pseudogenization. Ancestral genes had higher transcript abundance and were enriched for differential expression. This study provides foundational resources for analysis of Peronosclerospora and comparisons to other oomycete genera. Further genomic studies of global Peronosclerospora spp. will determine the suitability of the mitogenome, ancestral genes, and putative pseudogenes for marker development and taxonomic relationships.

The goal of this study is to establish the impact of tillage (reversible to a depth of 25–28 cm and irreversible to a depth of 25–28, 15–18 and 5–8 cm) and the fertilizing products such as LEANUM and VITAMIN O7 (liquid and powdered, respectively) for growing Hemingway and Harmonium hybrids with FAO 280 and 380 on the leaf area duration (LAD) and the concentration of chlorophyll а and b. The leaf area duration was measured by the method of M. I. Orlovskyi and calculated using the formula. The content of chlorophyll a and b in maize leaves was determined using the ULAB 102 Spectrophotometer. In general, the effect of biofertilizer treatment on the leaf can be noted by increasing the leaf area duration. Thus, for Harmonium, with any variant of tillage, the leaf area duration increased on the variants of foliar treatment. And on irreversible tillage for three years, an increase in the leaf area duration was noted with the use of pre–sowing inoculation with the studied fertilizing products, one treatment with LEANUM foliar, and a combined treatment with LEANUM + 1 LEANUM. It is worth noting that disking to a depth of 5–8 cm only led to a decrease in the leaf area duration during the cultivation of Harmonium. However, when growing Hemingway, almost all variants had a positive effect on the leaf area duration, with the exception of inoculation (when using both fertilizing products). An interesting fact is that in most cases, an increase in the leaf area duration led to a decrease in the concentration of chlorophyll a, but did not lead to a decrease in the total concentration of chlorophylls a and b, due to an increase in the concentration of chlorophyll b. It should be noted that biofertilizer treatment and tillage significantly affected the concentration of chlorophyll a and chlorophylls a and b, but chlorophyll b was not affected by tillage. When growing Hemingway, neither biologics nor tillage had any effect, while other pigments had a significant effect.

Abstract Biochar is a promising solution to alleviate the negative impacts of salinity stress on agricultural production. Biochar derived from food waste effect was investigated on three plant species, Medicago sativa, Amaranthus caudatus, and Zea mays, under saline environments. The results showed that biochar improved significantly the height by 30%, fresh weight of shoot by 35% and root by 45% of all three species compared to control (saline soil without biochar adding), as well as enhanced their photosynthetic pigments and enzyme activities in soil. This positive effect varied significantly between the 3 plants highlighting the importance of the plant-biochar interactions. Thus, the application of biochar is a promising solution to enhance the growth, root morphology, and physiological characteristics of plants under salt-induced stress.

Background: The exorbitant cost of wheat-based foods in non-wheat growing countries has necessitated looking for more enriched and sustainable alternative flour from botanicals that can be mixed and used to produce baked products including biscuits. The study aimed to make biscuits using three different fermented and unfermented mixtures of flour (sweet potato, pigeon pea, and yellow maize). Methods: Starch-rich tubers of yellow-fleshed cultivar of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), yellow maize (Zea mays) grains, and pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) seeds were purchased from food merchants in the Uchi market, located in Auchi area of Edo State, southern Nigeria in June 2022. These botanical samples were taxonomically validated. The samples were divided into two parts fermented and unfermented, prepared and produced into flour forms. The blended raw materials into flour were mixed in order of sweet potato: pigeon pea: maize (composite mix two 60.00:25.47:14.53, composite mix five 67.70:20.00:12.31 and composite mix eight 61.72:25.24:13.04) were selected to produce biscuits while 100% wheat was used as control. Biscuits were produced from the flour using a standard recipe. The obtained results were presented in mean±SD format of interpretations. Analytical significance dissimilarity between the means samples were considered based on one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using IBM Statistical software. Results: It revealed that fermentation increased techno-functional properties containing crude fiber (3.464±0.01-3.485±0.01) and ashes (3.688±0.11-3.711±0.11), while reducing fat (17.339±0.03) and moisture contents (3.639±0.05), the control had the highest protein (12.805±0.25) and lowest carbohydrate (55.622±0.12). The fermented biscuits had more flavonoids (23.162±0.36-23.852±0.60), saponins (14.793±0.07-23.495±0.03). Additionally, fermentation enhanced the potassium bioavailability of the products (19.803±0.00-25.264±0.05). There was high free radical scavenging activity and color for all the fermented samples than unfermented and controlled biscuits. Conclusion: According to the research, ternary flour mixes from the botanicals could lead to products with improved nutritional composition, functional properties, and antioxidant attributes to further improve biscuit quality. DOI: 10.18502/jfqhc.11.1.14992

Background: Today, mycotoxins are considered critical contaminants in foodstuffs produced by fungi, highlighting the importance of food safety to human health. The toxigenic fungi invasion and mycotoxin production are highly variable and depend on climate, plant, and agronomic practices. Among these, Aflatoxins (AFs) are considered the most potent toxins. This study investigated the fungi presence and AFB1 contamination in corn and wheat grown in Albania during the 2022 harvesting year. Methods: Wheat samples were collected during the summer, while corn during the autumn, and further analyzed. Mycological contamination assessment applied the Verband Deutscher Landëirtschaftlicher Untersuchungs ̶ und Forschungsanstalten (VDLUFA) procedures. The AFB1 levels were measured using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The MATLAB R2016b software was applied to perform statistical analysis. The Estimated Daily Intake on AFB1 was calculated to evaluate human exposure. Results: The genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, and Penicillium were isolated, with higher rates of contamination in corn and the highest frequency Penicillium genus (77.89%). The Korça region presented a higher fungal load, 104 Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/g in corn. The AFB1 incidence (88.23%) in corn, was significantly higher than in wheat (4.91%). Additionally, the maximum level in corn was found 69.120 μg/kg, while in wheat, only 0.402 μg/kg. None of the wheat samples, in contrast to the 41.18% of corn samples, exceeded the threshold when referring to the respective Maximum Residue Levels. Conclusions: Our observation indicates a higher rate of AFB1 contamination in corn than in wheat. The high concentration levels and contamination incidence in corn require targeted interventions to reduce the AFB1 amounts. Strengthened regulation based on scientific evidence can reduce contamination outbreaks, economic implications, and potential benefits, such as increased consumer trust. Our study indicates that the exposure to AFB1 originates from corn consumption among the adult population. DOI: 10.18502/jfqhc.11.1.14996

Nitrogen is an essential plant nutrient and a major yield-determining factor, required for normal vegetative growth and grain development of maize. Applying nitrogen requires appropriate fertilization management to achieve efficient nutrient utilization. A field experiment was carried out on Fluvisol to evaluate the yield and growth parameters response of maize (Zea mays var. saccharate) to incremental rates of N fertilizer (100, 150, 200 kg N/ha) from two different fertilization sources – ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and urea (CH4N2O). Highest yield was measured in plants subjected to N200 (9.76 t/ha) fertilization rate with NH4NO3. A high linear correlation was observed between yield and nitrogen fertilization rate regardless of the nitrogen source. The effect of different nitrogen rates was significant on leaf number and mass, ears mass, internodes number and mass per plant. The results revealed that the nitrogen source significantly affected the number of leaves per plant and the leaves mass. The individual effects of fertilization rate and source on yield were not statistically significant in isolation. However, when considered together, they exhibited a significant effect at the 95% confidence level.

There has been a global surge in the need for commercially accessible plant conditioners that are derived from natural ingredients and are therefore environmentally benign. Currently, sustainable agriculture and minimizing the ecological impact are of great importance. Preparations that contain commonly used humic acids and/or natural amino acids are ideal for meeting these criteria. An investigation was conducted to examine the impact of three plant foliar fertilizers containing humic acid and one fertilizer containing a combination of humic and amino acids on maize crops. By employing the shallow mRNA sequencing technique, we acquired datasets that, once processed, are ideal for investigating the impacts of the foliar fertilizers examined in the study. Five SRA datasets were uploaded to NCBI. These datasets include the TSA (Transcriptome Shotgun Assembly), the contigs that were blasted, mapped, and annotated from the pre-processed datasets, as well as the count table obtained from the RNA-seq read quantification. All of these data are included in the Mendeley database. In the future, the databases will enable the investigation of alterations in plant biochemical processes at the gene expression level.

El Gigante rockshelter in western Honduras provides a deeply stratified archaeological record of human-environment interaction spanning the entirety of the Holocene. Botanical materials are remarkably well preserved and include important tree (e.g., ciruela (Spondias), avocado (Persea americana)) and field (maize (Zea mays), beans (Phaseolus), and squash (Cucurbita)) crops. Here we provide a major update to the chronology of tree and field crop use evident in the sequence. We report 375 radiocarbon dates, a majority of which are for short-lived botanical macrofossils (e.g., maize cobs, avocado seeds, or rinds). Radiocarbon dates were used in combination with stratigraphic details to establish a Bayesian chronology for ~9,800 identified botanical samples spanning the last 11,000 years. We estimate that at least 16 discrete intervals of use occurred during this time, separated by gaps of ~100-2,000 years. The longest hiatus in rockshelter occupation was between ~6,400 and 4,400 years ago and the deposition of botanical remains peaked at ~2,000 calendar years before present (cal BP). Tree fruits and squash appeared early in the occupational sequence (~11,000 cal BP) with most other field crops appearing later in time (e.g., maize at ~4,400 cal BP; beans at ~2,200 cal BP). The early focus on tree fruits and squash is consistent with early coevolutionary partnering with humans as seed dispersers in the wake of megafaunal extinction in Mesoamerica. Tree crops predominated through much of the Holocene, and there was an overall shift to field crops after 4,000 cal BP that was largely driven by increased reliance on maize farming.

Control of fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) since its invasion of Africa still depends on pesticides. Early detection of adults is considered the key to the success of larvae control in the crop field. However, FAW control thresholds based on current monitoring techniques are not well established in Africa. We investigated the efficacy of moth capture frequencies and FAW incidence levels as decision tools for FAW management. Experiments were conducted over two maize cropping seasons during which FAW incidence, severity, and larvae count were recorded during destructive sampling after the application of a homologated insecticide. During the first season, the FAW incidence ranged from 37.5 ± 5.6% in the 25% incidence threshold treatment to 48.1 ± 8.1% in the control. During the second season, the incidence was significantly lower in the 25% incidence threshold treatment (55.8 ± 5.7%) compared with the control (75.7 ± 3.0%). Over the two seasons, no significant difference in FAW damage severity was recorded between the treatments and control. The highest number of larvae per plant (4.0 ± 0.6) was observed in the 10% incidence threshold treatment. Insecticide application did not consistently contribute to reducing FAW incidence and observed plant damage did not translate into yield loss. FAW control needs further investigation to establish a threshold above which damage translates into yield loss, thus necessitating control intervention.

Background: Members of the ACR gene family are commonly involved in various physiological processes, including amino acidmetabolismand stress responses. In recent decades, significant progress has been made in the study of ACR genes in plants. However, little is known about their characteristics and function in maize. Methods: In this study, ACR genes were identified from the maize genome, and their molecular characteristics, gene structure, gene evolution, gene collinearity analysis, cis-acting elements were analyzed. qRT-PCR technology was used to verify the expression patterns of the ZmACR gene family in different tissues under salt stress. In addition, Ectopic expression technique of ZmACR5 in Arabidopsis thaliana was utilized to identify its role in response to salt stress. Results: A total of 28 ZmACR genes were identified, and their molecular characteristics were extensively described. Two gene pairs arising from segmented replication events were detected in maize, and 18 collinear gene pairs were detected between maize and 3 other species. Through phylogenetic analysis, three subgroups were revealed, demonstrating distinct divergence between monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. Analysis of ZmACR cis-acting elements revealed the optional involvement of ZmACR genes in light response, hormone response and stress resistance. Expression analysis of 8 ZmACR genes under salt treatment clearly revealed their role in the response to salt stress. Ectopic overexpression of ZmACR5 in Arabidopsis notably reduced salt tolerance compared to that of the wild type under salt treatment, suggesting that ZmACR5 has a negative role in the response to salt stress. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings confirmed the involvement of ZmACR genes in regulating salt stress and contributed significantly to our understanding of the molecular function of ACR genes in maize, facilitating further research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study to determine the effect of aqueous extracts of stigmata maydis "Zea mays" at concentrations (0.0625; 0.125; 0.25; 0.5; 1.0 and 40 g/l), on the crystallization of brushite (calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate), in whole urine, at moderately acidic pH. The morphology, size, aggregation and abundance of crystals of brushite and other calcium phosphates formed simultaneously in whole urine, in the absence and in the presence of the various extracts tested, were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). From the results and observations, it appears that, in whole urine, "Zea mays" has an inhibiting power on the crystallization of brushite. Indeed, passing from low concentrations of the plant to high concentrations, the pH of the urinary medium increases from 6.5 to 6.9, thus inhibiting the crystallization of brushite in favor of apatites. At the high concentration of Zea mays (40 g/l), the plant strongly inhibits the crystallization of brushite. Therefore, the use of Zea mays could be very beneficial in the prevention of brushite lithiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant cell wall is a plastic structure of variable composition that constitutes the first line of defence against environmental challenges. Lodging and drought are two stressful conditions that severely impact maize yield. In a previous work, we characterised the cell walls of two maize inbreds, EA2024 (susceptible) and B73 (resistant) to stalk lodging. Here, we show that drought induces distinct phenotypical, physiological, cell wall, and transcriptional changes in the two inbreds, with B73 exhibiting lower tolerance to this stress than EA2024. In control conditions, EA2024 stalks had higher levels of cellulose, uronic acids and p‐coumarate than B73. However, upon drought EA2024 displayed increased levels of arabinose‐enriched polymers, such as pectin‐arabinans and arabinogalactan proteins, and a decreased lignin content. By contrast, B73 displayed a deeper rearrangement of cell walls upon drought, including modifications in lignin composition (increased S subunits and S/G ratio; decreased H subunits) and an increase of uronic acids. Drought induced more substantial changes in gene expression in B73 compared to EA2024, particularly in cell wall‐related genes, that were modulated in an inbred‐specific manner. Transcription factor enrichment assays unveiled inbred‐specific regulatory networks coordinating cell wall genes expression. Altogether, these findings reveal that B73 and EA2024 inbreds, with opposite stalk‐lodging phenotypes, undertake different cell wall modification strategies in response to drought. We propose that the specific cell wall composition conferring lodging resistance to B73, compromises its cell wall plasticity, and renders this inbred more susceptible to drought. Summary statement: We compared the effects of drought on the cell wall composition and gene expression of two maize inbred with contrasting stalk‐lodging resistance. We suggest that the higher drought resistance of the lodging‐susceptible inbred is related to its higher cell wall plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]