Co-expression of ZmVPP1, ZmNAC111, and ZmTIP1 confers enhanced drought tolerance in maize (Zea mays)

Abstract

Maize plants are adversely affected by abiotic stresses, among which drought is one of the most challenging hazards to production. Abiotic stress significantly affects plant development and production, necessitating the identification of stress-responsive genes for crop improvement. In the current study, drought stress was applied on maize cultivar C. Pak and we analyzed their effects on their phytohormones as compared to control. Their results illustrated that significant variations in Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Abscisic acid (ABA), and Salicylic acid (SA) levels among the studied treatments were achieved as compared to control. Moreover, we also checked the expression pattern of the targeted 3 genes in maize under stress conditions through semi quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) in roots and shoots. The expression patterns of ZmVPP1, ZmNAC111 and ZmTIP1 in maize roots and shoots were upregulated as compared to control. The expression of ZmNAC111 was higher in both root and shoot in maize as compared to ZmVPP1 and ZmTIP1, respectively. These findings highlight the differential roles of ZmVPP1, ZmNAC111, and ZmTIP1 in drought stress tolerance, with particular emphasis on ZmNAC111, providing valuable insights into their potential applications in maize breeding for enhanced drought resilience. © 2025 The Author(s)