Jutta A. Baldauf & Frank Hochholdinger

Theoretical and Applied Genetics August 2023; vol. 136, Article number: 173

Key message

Heterosis is already manifested early in root development. Consistent with the dominance model of heterosis, gene expression complementation is a general mechanism that contributes to phenotypic heterosis in maize hybrids.

Abstract

Highly heterozygous F₁-hybrids outperform their parental inbred lines, a phenomenon known as heterosis. Utilization of heterosis is of paramount agricultural importance and has been widely applied to increase yield in many crop cultivars. Plant roots display heterosis for many traits and are an important target for further crop improvement. To explain the molecular basis of heterosis, several genetic hypotheses have been proposed. In recent years, high-throughput gene expression profiling techniques have been applied to investigate hybrid vigor. Consistent with the classical genetic dominance model, gene expression complementation has been demonstrated to be a general mechanism to contribute to phenotypic heterosis in diverse maize hybrids. Functional classification of these genes supported the notion that gene expression complementation can dynamically promote hybrid vigor under fluctuating environmental conditions. Hybrids tend to respond differently to available nutrients in the soil. It was hypothesized that hybrid vigor is promoted through a higher nutrient use efficiency which is linked to an improved root system performance of hybrids in comparison to their inbred parents. Recently, the interaction between soil microbes and their plant host was added as further dimension to disentangle heterosis in the belowground part of plants. Soil microbes influenced the performance of maize hybrids as illustrated in comparisons of sterile soil and soil inhabited by beneficial microorganisms.

See https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00122-023-04419-6

Figure 1: Maize seedling root system and associated traits displaying heterosis. Hybrids display in comparison to their parental inbred lines an increased number of seminal roots, a higher density of lateral roots, a longer primary root and an increased cortical cell size. According to data from (Hoecker et al. 2006).