背景回顾：The genomic basis underlying the selection for environmental adaptation and yield-related traits in maize remains poorly understood. 

结果1-组学分析：Here we carried out genome-wide profiling of the small RNA (sRNA) transcriptome (sRNAome) and transcriptome landscapes of a global maize diversity panel under dry and wet conditions and uncover dozens of environment-specific regulatory hotspots. 

结果2-试验验证：Transgenic and molecular studies of Drought-Related Environment-specific Super eQTL Hotspot on chromosome 8 (DRESH8) and ZmMYBR38, a target of DRESH8-derived small interfering RNAs, revealed a transposable element-mediated inverted repeats (TE-IR)-derived sRNA- and gene-regulatory network that balances plant drought tolerance with yield-related traits. 

结果3-演化视角：A genome-wide scan revealed that TE-IRs associate with drought response and yield-related traits that were positively selected and expanded during maize domestication. 

结论：These results indicate that TE-IR-mediated posttranscriptional regulation is a key molecular mechanism underlying the tradeoff between crop environmental adaptation and yield-related traits, providing potential genomic targets for the breeding of crops with greater stress tolerance but uncompromised yield.

在玉米中，有关环境适应和产量性状选择的基因组基础仍不清楚。本文中，作者通过对干旱和浇水条件下全球玉米资源材料进行小RNA转录组测序（sRNAome）和转录组测序，鉴定到了数十个环境特异性的调控热点。通过对8号染色体上干旱相关环境特异性超级eQTL热点（DRES8）和一个DRESH8来源的小干扰RNA的靶标基因ZmMYBR38的转基因和分子实验，揭示了一个转座子介导的反向重复序列（TE-IR）衍生的sRNA和基因调控网络，作用于植物干旱耐受性和产量性状之间的平衡。全基因组扫描显示，TE-IRs与干旱响应和产量性状相关，这些位点在玉米驯化过程中都受到了正选择，并且获得了扩张。这些结果表明，TE-IR介导的转录后调控是作物权衡环境适应和产量性状的关键分子机制，为创制具有更强胁迫抗性且产量不受影响的作物新品种提供了潜在的基因组靶点。

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