Maize, a vital cereal in global agriculture, faces significant yield challenges due to drought exacerbated by climate change. This study explores the genetic and molecular bases of drought resilience in maize, focusing on the EPF/EPFL gene family known for its role in stomatal regulation. Through a genome-wide analysis across seven grass species, we identified and characterized 16 ZmEPF/EPFL genes in maize. Focusing on their gene structure, expression patterns, and evolutionary relationships. The study integrated genome-wide searches, phylogenetic analysis, gene expression profiling under drought and other abiotic stresses, and qRT-PCR validation to elucidate the functional roles of these genes in drought response. Our results demonstrate that specific ZmEPF/EPFL genes are differentially expressed under varying drought conditions, suggesting their involvement in the plant’s adaptive response to water scarcity. Furthermore, interaction analyses reveal that these genes are linked to key processes such as stomatal development and oxidative stress management. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the ZmEPF/EPFL gene family’s contribution to stomatal development and drought tolerance, offering insights that could guide future breeding strategies for drought-resistant maize varieties.

The TALE gene family plays a crucial role in regulating growth, development, and abiotic stress responses in plants. However, limited studies have been conducted on the functions of the ZmTALE gene family in maize under drought stress. This study identified 40 members of the ZmTALE family within the maize genome through Blast comparisons, distributed unevenly across the first nine chromosomes. Intraspecific collinearity analysis revealed 13 linked pairs. By constructing a phylogenetic tree with Arabidopsis AtTALE members as references, maize members were divided into two subfamilies, KNOX and BEL1-Like, with KNOX further divided into three branches (KNOX Class I, KNOX Class II, and KNOX Class III). The gene structure and motifs of ZmTALE genes within the same subfamily or branch showed similarities, as did their encoded proteins, which possess similar motifs and conserved domains. Analysis of the physicochemical properties of the ZmTALE proteins revealed that the proteins encoded by this family are stable. Expression analysis of ZmTALE genes in maize demonstrated their varied roles in development and drought stress regulation, confirmed through qRT-PCR. The identification, characterization, and expression analysis of ZmTALE genes provide a reference for future gene function research and aid in the genetic enhancement of maize to withstand drought stress.

Alkaline stress limits crop productivity by causing osmotic and oxidative damage. This study investigated the new gene LcTprxII, a type II peroxiredoxin encoded by Leymus chinensis, and its role in enhancing alkaline stress tolerance in transgenic maize. The gene was cloned, overexpressed, and characterized using RT-PCR, phylogenetic analysis, and motif identification. Transgenic maize lines were generated via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and subjected to physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic analyses under alkaline stress. Under alkaline stress, the results revealed that LcTprxII overexpression significantly preserved chlorophyll content, mitigated oxidative damage, and maintained growth compared to wild-type plants, as evidenced by elevated activities of antioxidant enzymes (APX, CAT, SOD, and POD) and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Transcriptomic profiling identified 3733 differentially expressed genes and the upregulation of ABA and MAPK signaling pathways, highlighting the role of these genes in stress signaling and metabolic adaptation. Hormonal analysis indicated reduced ABA and increased GA levels in the transgenic lines. This study identified WRKY, bHLH, and MYB transcription factors as key regulators activated under alkaline stress, contributing to transcriptional regulation in transgenic maize. Field trials confirmed the agronomic potential of LcTprxII-overexpressing maize, with yield maintained under alkaline conditions. The present study revealed that LcTprxII enhances antioxidant defenses and stress signaling, which trigger tolerance to abiotic stress. Future studies should explore the long-term effects on growth, yield, and molecular interactions under diverse environmental conditions.

The DUF568 gene family contributes to diverse biological processes in Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, but its function in maize (Zea mays) under abiotic stress remains largely unclear. This study aimed to address this gap through the first comprehensive identification and characterization of 10 ZmDUF568 genes in maize, including analyses of their evolutionary relationships, gene structures, expression patterns, upstream transcription factors, and tissue-specific responses. We further analyzed their expression profiles under heat, cold, and drought stresses using public transcriptome datasets, and validated the expression of selected candidate genes under salt and drought stresses via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Additionally, we predicted potential upstream transcription factors using published ChIP-seq data. Our results reveal the basic structural features and stress-responsive expression patterns of the ZmDUF568 family, providing a set of candidate genes and a foundational resource for future functional validation studies of DUF568 genes in maize abiotic stress responses.

Fibrillins (FBNs) are conserved plastid-associated proteins implicated in plant development and abiotic stress responses; however, their roles in maize remain unclear. In this study, through a genome-wide bioinformatic analysis, we identified 14 ZmFBN genes in the maize genome and characterized their phylogeny, chromosomal distribution, gene structure, conserved motifs, and promoter cis-elements. ZmFBN members were grouped into several subfamilies that all retain a conserved PAP_fibrillin domain, whereas the variation in exon–intron organization, motif composition, and regulatory elements suggests functional diversification. Expression profiling revealed pronounced tissue-preferential patterns, with many genes highly expressed in leaves and reproductive tissues, and distinct responses to drought, salt, heat, and cold stresses. qRT-PCR assays showed that ZmFBN8 and ZmFBN9 are strongly induced by both salt and PEG-simulated drought, ZmFBN2 and ZmFBN5 are predominantly drought-responsive, and ZmFBN11 is mainly activated by salt. Genome-wide association analysis further detected significant loci near ZmFBN1 and ZmFBN4, whose allelic variants are associated with the survival rate under drought and with key agronomic traits, including the tassel branch number, flowering time, ear diameter, and kernel length. These results demonstrate that ZmFBN genes make diversified contributions to maize growth, development, and stress adaptation and highlight several members as promising targets for functional studies and the molecular breeding of stress-tolerant maize. Moreover, selection pressure analysis indicated ZmFBN7 experienced relaxed purifying selection, and ZmFBN12 underwent positive selection, which drives the functional diversification of the ZmFBN family during maize evolution.