In the context of climate change, drought is one of the most limiting factors that influence crop production. Maize, as a major crop, is highly vulnerable to water deficit, which causes significant yield loss. Thus, identification and utilization of drought-resistant germplasm are crucial for the genetic improvement of the trait. Here we report on a high-quality genome assembly of a prominent drought-resistant genotype, CIMBL55. Genomic and genetic variation analyses revealed that 65 favorable alleles of 108 previously identified drought-resistant candidate genes were found in CIMBL55, which may constitute the genetic basis for its excellent drought resistance. Notably, ZmRtn16, encoding a reticulon-like protein, was found to contribute to drought resistance by facilitating the vacuole H⁺-ATPase activity, which highlights the role of vacuole proton pumps in maize drought resistance. The assembled CIMBL55 genome provided a basis for genetic dissection and improvement of plant drought resistance, in support of global food security.

在气候变化的背景下，干旱是影响作物生产的最大限制因素之一。玉米作为主要作物，极易缺水，导致产量大幅下降。因此，抗旱种质资源的鉴定和利用对于性状的遗传改良至关重要。在这里，我们报告了一个突出的抗旱基因型 CIMBL55 的高质量基因组组装。基因组和遗传变异分析表明，在 CIMBL55 中发现了 108 个先前鉴定的抗旱候选基因的 65 个有利等位基因，这可能构成其优异抗旱性的遗传基础。值得注意的是，编码网状蛋白样蛋白的ZmRtn16被发现通过促进液泡 H ⁺来促进抗旱性-ATP酶活性，突出液泡质子泵在玉米抗旱性中的作用。组装的 CIMBL55 基因组为遗传解剖和提高植物抗旱性提供了基础，以支持全球粮食安全。