A SAUR gene enhances maize drought resilience by promoting silk elongation

nature.com·May 20, 2026

The ZmSAUR72 protein in maize enhances silk growth by regulating H+-ATPase activity, playing a crucial role in the anthesis-silking interval and drought resilience.

The discovery that the Small Auxin Up RNA (SAUR) protein ZmSAUR72 in maize regulates H+-ATPase activity to promote silk growth and influence the anthesis-silking interval presents a significant advancement in agricultural resilience research. This insight could lead to the development of drought-resistant maize varieties, which is crucial for improving crop yields in increasingly arid climates.

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A SAUR gene enhances maize drought resilience by promoting silk elongation

Want more content like this?

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