Europe PMC · 2026-06-18
Scientists discovered that when corn plants cannot pollinate, they age and deteriorate much faster than normal — and identified 20 specific genes that appear to control this premature aging process. Understanding these genetic switches could help develop corn varieties that better withstand stress during grain development.
Pollination prevention triggered early senescence, with the sharpest divergence in gene activity occurring between 14 and 18 days after silking — a narrow window that marks the onset of stress-induced aging.
Five coordinated gene networks linked to energy metabolism, photosynthesis, and stress responses were disrupted in non-pollinated grains, correlating with measurable changes in sugar levels and oxidative stress markers.
20 hub genes — including MYB transcription factors and heat shock protein genes — were identified as likely master regulators of senescence triggered by reduced grain demand.
