Improvement of cold tolerance in maize ( L.) using -mediated transformation of gene.

Maize ( L.) is a food crop sensitive to low temperatures. As one of the abiotic stress hazards, low temperatures seriously affect the yield of maize. However, the genetic basis of low-temperature adaptation in maize is still poorly understood. In this study, maize S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase ) was localized to the nucleus. We used -mediated transformation technology to introduce the gene into an excellent maize inbred line variety GSH9901 and produced a cold-tolerant transgenic maize line. After three years of single-field experiments, the contents of polyamines (PAs), proline (Pro), malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant enzymes and ascorbate peroxidases (APXs) in the leaves of the transgenic maize plants overexpressing the gene significantly increased, and the expression of elevated and cold-responsive genes effectively increased. The agronomic traits of the maize overexpressing the gene changed, and the yield traits significantly improved. However, no significant changes were found in plant height, ear length, and shaft thickness. Therefore, enzymes can effectively improve the cold tolerance of maize.