生长调控因子（growth-regulating factors，GRF）基因家族是一类植物特有的转录因子。在模式植物水稻、拟南芥中，部分GRF基因被证实是影响株高发育的核心调控因子。利用加权基因共表达网络分析方法（Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis，WGCNA），初步构建以玉米ZmGRF基因与调控株高发育的功能基因为核心的共表达网络。结果表明，有9个ZmGRF基因与已报道的调控株高发育基因具有显著的共表达关系，并呈现出网络化的共表达模式，推测这9个ZmGRF基因是调控玉米株高发育的潜在候选基因。进一步通过微共线性分析发现，9个ZmGRF候选基因中有8个基因可以形成基因对，并且所有基因对的Ka/Ks值均显著小于1，暗示调控株高发育候选ZmGRF基因功能的保守性。

Growth-regulating factors(GRF) is an important type of transcription factors, which were specifically identified in plant kingdom. Several homologs of GRF genes have been demonstrated to be key regulators that could affect the development of plant height in model plants, such as Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana. In the present study, weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA) was used to explore the potential key hub ZmGRF genes via previously published high-throughput RNA-seq dataset. A total of nine candidate ZmGRF genes exhibited significant co-expression mode with functionally characterized genes in maize. Moreover, 8 out of 9 candidate gene could form robust gene pairs within maize or between maize and rice genomes via microsynteny analysis. The ratio of Ka to Ks for each gene pair indicated that all ZmGRF genes were undergone stringent purifying selection, indicating the conversation of molecular function of ZmGRF genes in maize. Finally, ZmGRF genes showed clearly diverse expression profiles in different maize lines or developmental stages.

S513.035.3

安徽省自然科学基金项目青年项目（1808085QC69）