Light is the most important environmental cue signaling the transition from skotomorphogenesis to photomorphogenesis, thus affecting plant development and metabolic activity. How the light response mechanisms of maize seedlings respond to fluctuations in the light environment has not been well characterized to date. In this study, we built a gene coexpression network from a dynamic transcriptomic map of maize seedlings exposed to different light environments. Coexpression analysis identified ten modules and multiple genes that closely correlate with photosynthesis and characterized hub genes associated with regulatory networks, duplication events, domestication and improvement. In addition, we identified that 38% of hub genes underwent duplication events, 74% of which are related to photosynthesis. Moreover, we captured the dynamic expression atlas of gene sets involved in the chloroplast photosynthetic apparatus and photosynthetic carbon assimilation in different light environments, which should help to elucidate the key mechanisms and regulatory networks that underlie photosynthesis in maize. Insights from this study provide a valuable resource to better understand the genetic mechanisms of the response to fluctuations in the light environment in maize.

光是最重要的环境线索，标志着从skotomorphogenesis到photomorphogenesis的过渡，从而影响植物的发育和代谢活性。迄今为止，尚未很好地表征玉米幼苗的光响应机制如何响应光环境中的波动。在这项研究中，我们从暴露于不同光照环境下的玉米幼苗的动态转录组图谱构建了一个基因共表达网络。共表达分析确定了与光合作用密切相关的十个模块和多个基因，并表征了与调节网络，复制事件，驯化和改良相关的中枢基因。此外，我们发现38％的中枢基因经历了复制事件，其中74％与光合作用有关。而且，我们捕获了在不同光照环境中叶绿体光合装置和光合碳同化所涉及的基因集的动态表达图集，这应有助于阐明构成玉米光合作用的关键机制和调控网络。这项研究的见识提供了宝贵的资源，可以更好地了解玉米对光环境波动的响应的遗传机制。