Divergent Molecular and Physiological Response of Two Maize Breeding Lines Under Phosphate Deficiency

Abstract Inorganic phosphate (Pi) deficiency is a main limiting factor on crops growth and to select low-Pi tolerant breeding lines very significant for crop breeding. Here, two contrasting maize ( Zea mays L.) showed different physiological response Pi deficiency. The QXN233 maintained normal growth, including high fresh weight, green leaves, strong shoots, numerous roots relative that of the sensitive MH05-4, mainly due QXN233’ content in shoots under Importantly, some Pi-responsive genes were detected, among them, transporters ZmPHT1;1 ZmPHT1;9 as well phytase gene Zmphytase 2 expressed increasingly compared MH05-4 deprivation or resupply. Moreover, had higher proline content, soluble sugar SOD activity than related with its tolerance. Taken together, this study enriches understanding mechanism responding