Abstract
Iron (Fe) is an essential nutrient for all organisms including plants. Graminaceous plants release mugineic acid family phytosiderophores (MAs), which bind and solubilize insoluble Fe in the rhizosphere. The resulting Fe(III)-MAs complexes are reabsorbed by the root cells. Maize belongs to C(4) grasses, and have high photosynthetic efficiency. However, under Fe deficient condition such as on calcareous soil, maize shows easily Fe deficient symptoms and its growth decreases dramatically. Yellow stripe 1 (ys1) and ys3 were both the mendelian recessive mutants which showed intercostal chrolosis in their leaves, typical symptoms of Fe deficiency. ys1 has a mutation in MAs-phytosiderophores transporter YS1 genes, and lacks to absorb Fe(III)-MAs complexes. ys3 has been shown to be defect in MAs release, however the causative gene was not identified. Using microarray analysis, we surveyed the genes whose expression levels were changed by Fe deficiency, and analyzed their function by comparing with rice information. In addition, we also analyzed the genes expression profile in ys1 or ys3 mutants.
