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<p>Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase (MAP4K) cascade components are versatile signaling integrators in plants, yet their agronomic relevance in crops remains largely unexplored. Here, we systematically characterized 11 maize <i>MAP4K</i> genes through genome-wide identification, expression profiling, candidate-gene association mapping, and network-based analyses. Genomic analysis suggested that the current composition of the <i>ZmMAP4K</i> family was shaped by both whole-genome duplication/segmental duplication and dispersed duplication, accompanied by substantial divergence in spatiotemporal and stress-responsive expression patterns. Association analyses across 23 agronomic and stress-related traits revealed significant functional diversification within the family. Notably, <i>ZmMAP4K2</i> emerged as a multi-stress-associated locus, as different variants within this gene were associated with salt tolerance and southern leaf blight (SLB) resistance, respectively. Furthermore, natural variation in <i>ZmMAP4K4</i> was strongly associated with drought survival, whereas a favorable allele of <i>ZmMAP4K10</i>, characterized by higher transcriptional activity, was associated with increased kernel thickness and other yield traits. Haplotype analyses identified favorable allelic combinations for stress-related traits, while multi-locus evaluation of stress-associated variants revealed genotype combinations with enhanced resilience to multiple stresses and no evident penalties on major yield-related traits. Finally, predictive regulatory and protein–protein interaction networks provided putative molecular contexts for key <i>ZmMAP4Ks</i> in both stress adaptation and yield formation. Together, this study highlights the agronomic potential of the maize <i>MAP4K</i> family, offering specific candidate loci and allelic combinations for future functional validation and trait pyramiding.</p>

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Genome-wide characterization and association analysis of the maize MAP4K gene family identify candidate loci for stress resilience and yield improvement

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月4日

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  • Neng He,
  • Zhiwei Wang,
  • Bing Xiang,
  • Huanhuan Chen,
  • Wei Zhou,
  • Xiaopeng Sun,
  • Xi Wu,
  • Juliana Erika de Carvalho Teixeira Yassitepe,
  • Yanli Xiang,
  • Mingqiu Dai

摘要

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase (MAP4K) cascade components are versatile signaling integrators in plants, yet their agronomic relevance in crops remains largely unexplored. Here, we systematically characterized 11 maize MAP4K genes through genome-wide identification, expression profiling, candidate-gene association mapping, and network-based analyses. Genomic analysis suggested that the current composition of the ZmMAP4K family was shaped by both whole-genome duplication/segmental duplication and dispersed duplication, accompanied by substantial divergence in spatiotemporal and stress-responsive expression patterns. Association analyses across 23 agronomic and stress-related traits revealed significant functional diversification within the family. Notably, ZmMAP4K2 emerged as a multi-stress-associated locus, as different variants within this gene were associated with salt tolerance and southern leaf blight (SLB) resistance, respectively. Furthermore, natural variation in ZmMAP4K4 was strongly associated with drought survival, whereas a favorable allele of ZmMAP4K10, characterized by higher transcriptional activity, was associated with increased kernel thickness and other yield traits. Haplotype analyses identified favorable allelic combinations for stress-related traits, while multi-locus evaluation of stress-associated variants revealed genotype combinations with enhanced resilience to multiple stresses and no evident penalties on major yield-related traits. Finally, predictive regulatory and protein–protein interaction networks provided putative molecular contexts for key ZmMAP4Ks in both stress adaptation and yield formation. Together, this study highlights the agronomic potential of the maize MAP4K family, offering specific candidate loci and allelic combinations for future functional validation and trait pyramiding.