Maize (Zea mays) is a leading cereal crop in the world. The maize kernel is the storage organ and the harvest portion of this crop and is closely related to its yield and quality. The development of maize kernel is initiated by the double fertilization event, leading to the formation of a diploid embryo and a triploid endosperm. The embryo and endosperm are then undergone independent developmental programs, resulting in a mature maize kernel which is comprised of a persistent endosperm, a large embryo, and a maternal pericarp. Due to the well-characterized morphogenesis and powerful genetics, maize kernel has long been an excellent model for the study of cereal kernel development. In recent years, with the release of the maize reference genome and the development of new genomic technologies, there has been an explosive expansion of new knowledge for maize kernel development. In this review, we overviewed recent progress in the study of maize kernel development, with an emphasis on genetic mapping of kernel traits, transcriptome analysis during kernel development, functional gene cloning of kernel mutants, and genetic engineering of kernel traits.

玉米（Zea mays）是世界上主要的谷类作物。玉米籽粒是农作物的贮藏器官和收获部分，与其产量和品质密切相关。玉米籽粒的发育是由双受精事件启动的，导致二倍体胚和三倍体胚乳的形成。然后胚和胚乳经历独立的发育程序，形成成熟的玉米籽粒，其由持久的胚乳、大胚和母体果皮组成。由于具有良好的形态发生和强大的遗传学特性，玉米籽粒长期以来一直是研究谷类籽粒发育的优秀模型。近年来，随着玉米参考基因组的发布和新基因组技术的发展，玉米籽粒开发的新知识出现了爆炸性增长。在这篇综述中，我们概述了玉米籽粒发育研究的最新进展，重点是籽粒性状的遗传图谱、籽粒发育过程中的转录组分析、籽粒突变体的功能基因克隆以及籽粒性状的基因工程。