PubMed · 2026-05-11
Scientists used gene-editing to confirm that a specific gene in maize called ZmHMA3 is critical for helping corn plants survive soils with too much zinc. Without it, plants grew poorly, suffered more oxidative damage, and accumulated dangerously high zinc levels in their tissues.
Corn plants with ZmHMA3 knocked out accumulated significantly higher zinc levels in both roots and leaves compared to normal plants under high-zinc stress.
Knockout mutants showed severely impaired antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase) and increased membrane damage, indicating heightened oxidative stress.
ZmHMA3 expression was strongly induced by high-zinc conditions in both leaves and roots, confirming it is actively recruited as part of the plant's stress response.
