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Research Project: Regulation, Biosynthesis, and Function of Plant Chemical Defenses and their Role in Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Location: Chemistry Research

Title: The herbivore-inducible coumarate-CoA ligase 5 (Zm4CL5) in maize contributes to the production of non-lignin phenylpropanoids

Author
item LIU, HUI - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Gorman, Zachary
item Sorg, Ariel
item MAURER, HAILEY - Volunteer
item SHINDE, SANKET - University Of Nebraska
item KALER, ESHA - University Of Nebraska
item BASSET, GILLES - University Of Florida
item LOUIS, JOE - University Of Nebraska
item Block, Anna

Submitted to: Planta
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2025
Publication Date: 4/2/2025
Citation: Liu, H., Gorman, Z.J., Sorg, A.M., Maurer, H., Shinde, S., Kaler, E., Basset, G., Louis, J., Block, A.K. 2025. The herbivore-inducible coumarate-CoA ligase 5 (Zm4CL5) in maize contributes to the production of non-lignin phenylpropanoids. Planta. 261,101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-025-04680-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-025-04680-7

Interpretive Summary: Plants produce many chemical compounds that are important for their growth and to protect themselves from pests. ARS scientists in Gainesville Florida, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University of Florida investigated the function of a gene in corn involved in the production of many of these compounds. The researchers found that a mutation in this gene led to corn plants that were taller than plants without the mutation and produced higher levels of defense compounds in response to the insect pest fall armyworm. These findings can be leveraged by plant breeders to potentially increase the growth and pest resistance of this important food, feed and bio-fuel crop.

Technical Abstract: The phenylpropanoid pathway is important for numerous compounds involved in plant growth and stress resilience, including lignin and flavonoids. The last common step in the core phenylpropanoid pathway is the enzyme 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL). Many plants have small families of 4CL genes that have distinct but overlapping roles in the production of different phenylpropanoid derived compounds. Maize (Zea mays) has five 4CL genes four of which (Zm4CL1-4) are type I (lignin associated 4CLs), while one, Zm4CL5, is a type 2 (non-lignin associated 4CL). Here we show that expression of the type I genes is altered by infection with the fungal pathogen Bipolaris maydis, while Zm4CL5 is induced in response to herbivory by Spodoptera frugiperda. A knock-down mutant of Zm4CL5 showed modified accumulation of flavonoids and other non-lignin phenylpropanoids. The mutant also had increased plant height revealing a role for Zm4CL5 in plant growth and phenylpropanoid production.