Maize Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 202-218 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/mgg 202 Case Study Open Access Transcriptomic Analysis of Heat-Responsive Genes in Maize Seedlings Jiamin Wang, Xian Zhang, Guifen Wang Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding author: guifen.wang@hitar.org Maize Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol.16, No.4 doi: 10.5376/mgg.2025.16.0018 Received: 05 Jun., 2025 Accepted: 20 Jul., 2025 Published: 10 Aug., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Wang et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Wang J.M., Zhang X., and Wang G.F., 2025, Transcriptomic analysis of heat-responsive genes in maize seedlings, Maize Genomics and Genetics, 16(4): 202-218 (doi: 10.5376/mgg.2025.16.0018) Abstract High temperature stress is an important limiting factor affecting the yield and quality of maize (Zea mays). In recent years, with global warming, the problem of reduced corn production caused by high temperatures has become increasingly prominent. Therefore, it is of great significance to analyze the molecular mechanism by which corn seedlings respond to high-temperature stress. This study reviews the physiological effects of high temperature on the growth and development of corn seedlings, as well as the latest progress in exploring high-temperature response genes in corn using transcriptomics technology. It elaborates on the interference of high-temperature stress on physiological processes such as photosynthesis and respiration in corn, as well as the response characteristics such as reactive oxygen species accumulation, antioxidant defense, and hormone level changes. Analyze the expression patterns and protective effects of the corn heat shock protein family genes, the regulatory functions of heat response transcription factors (such as HSF, bZIP, NAC, etc.), and the potential regulatory roles of non-coding Rnas such as miRNA, and summarize the main pathways of high-temperature signal perception and conduction. Especially the role of signaling pathways such as Ca2+, ABA, and MAPK in the heat stress response of maize, and the key regulatory modules and candidate genes are revealed through the gene co-expression network. The preliminary molecular map of the high-temperature response of corn has been constructed, but there are still weak links in the research. This study looks forward to the future and requires the integration of multi-omics techniques to deeply reveal the mechanism of corn heat tolerance, in order to promote the breeding of new corn varieties with stable yields under high-temperature conditions. Keywords Corn; High-temperature stress; Transcriptome; Thermal response gene; Heat resistance 1 Introduction Corn is a crop that is extremely sensitive to temperature, and it may be adversely affected by high-temperature heat damage at all stages of its growth. When the environmental temperature exceeds the optimal temperature range for corn growth (generally 25 ℃-33 ℃ during the day), the growth rate of seedlings decreases, photosynthesis is hindered, and respiratory loss intensifies, resulting in a reduction in the accumulation of plant biomass. Under continuous high-temperature stress, the growth of corn stems and leaves is inhibited, the leaves develop poorly, and premature senescence symptoms occur. In severe cases, the seedlings may wilt or even die. Especially, high temperatures are often accompanied by drought, which further aggravates the water deficiency and insufficient supply of photosynthetic products in corn, and has a more significant impact on seedlings. Studies show that high-temperature heat damage can cause a reduction in corn production of more than 10%, and in extreme cases, for every 1 ℃ increase, it may lead to an additional 7% decrease in corn yield (Kim and Lee, 2023). Therefore, high-temperature stress has become one of the important environmental factors restricting the increase of corn yield and requires sufficient attention. To mitigate the adverse effects of high temperatures on corn production, breeders are working on developing heat-resistant corn varieties. However, traditional breeding methods are inefficient and there is insufficient understanding of the genetic basis of corn heat tolerance. In recent years, with the development of molecular biology and genomics, people have begun to reveal the mechanism by which corn responds to high-temperature stress at the molecular level and apply it to breeding practice. For instance, through the evaluation of the heat tolerance of large-scale corn germplasm, a batch of high-temperature resistant inbred lines and hybrid materials were screened out, providing a parental basis for heat-resistant breeding. Meanwhile, genetic engineering and
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