Genome-wide association study and genomic predictions for hydroxycinnamate concentrations in maize stover

Authors: GESTEIRO, NOEMI - Biological Mission Of Galicia Spain; MALVAR, ROSA ANA - Biological Mission Of Galicia Spain; BUTRON, ANA - Biological Mission Of Galicia Spain; Holland, James; SOUTO, X.C. - Instituto De Recursos Naturales Y Agrobiologia De Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC); LOPEZ-MALVAR, A. - Universidad De Vigo; SANTIAGO, ROGELIO - Biological Mission Of Galicia Spain

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/24/2024
Publication Date: 1/13/2025
Citation: Gesteiro, N., Malvar, R., Butron, A., Holland, J.B., Souto, X., Lopez-Malvar, A., Santiago, R. 2025. Genome-wide association study and genomic predictions for hydroxycinnamate concentrations in maize stover. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c07467.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c07467

Interpretive Summary: Hydroxycinnamates are important components of maize cell walls, potentially playing a role in pest resistance, ruminant digestibility and biofuel production. An increase in their concentration has been linked to higher pest resistance, but also may to a decrease in nutritional value or bioethanol production efficiency. Therefore, understanding the genetic controls and relationships of hydroxycinnamates may help efforts to enhance forage quality or biofuel production without compromising plant resistance. The aim of this study was to identify genomic regions associated with hydroxycinnamate concentrations in maize stover and to develop genomic prediction models to determine the best selection approach for modifying hydroxycinnamate content. No genes associated with hydroxycinnamate contents in this study overlapped with genes associated with stover digestibility, but genomic prediction models for hydroxycinnamate contents had good predictive power, suggesting that genomic selection could be used to alter these components of the maize stover.

Technical Abstract: Hydroxycinnamates, such as ferulate (FA) and p-coumarate (pCA), are important components of maize cell walls, potentially playing a role in pest resistance, ruminal digestibility and biofuel production. An increase in their concentration has been linked to higher pest resistance, which but also may lead to a decrease in nutritional value or bioethanol production efficiency. Therefore, in order to enhance forage quality or biofuel production without compromising plant resistance, a deep understanding of the biosynthesis and deposition of these compounds is necessary, especially in the stover, which is the raw material for second-generation biofuel production and determines animal forage quality. The aim of this study was to identify genomic regions associated with hydroxycinnamates and to develop genomic prediction models to determine the best selection approach for modifying hydroxycinnamate content. Although the heritability estimates for hydroxycinnamates were moderate, direct phenotypic selection is discouraged because hydroxycinnamate quantification is laborious and time consuming. Negative genotypic correlations were observed between animal digestibility and pCA content, and positive with stover differulates content, suggesting an effect opposite to that observed in previous studies focused on maize pith. However, no co-localisations with digestibility QTLs were found, indicating the need for additional research to indirectly improve this trait based on hydroxycinnamate concentrations. On the other hand, given the moderate predictive capacity of GBLUP (Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction) prediction models, genotypic selection is proposed as the most promising alternative for modifying hydroxycinnamate content.