The callose synthase enzyme genes (Cals) generally plays an important role in resisting to environmental stresses as well as in regulating the microspore development of higher plant. However till now, few researches about ZmCals genes have been reported in maize. In this study, ten ZmCals genes were identified, and they are distributed on four chromosomes in maize. All ZmCals proteins contain Glucan-synthase-domain and Fks1-domain. RNA-seq data from public databases were analyzed and the result suggested that ZmCals involved in the development of various tissues, and a strong expression presented especially in young tissue. qRT-PCR analysis shown that most of ZmCals are highly expressed in root, stem and leaf at jointing stage (V6 stage) with maize inbred line B73. Seven out of 10 ZmCals genes display higher expression during maize anther development especially from stage 6 to stage 8b, the dynamic accumulation process of callose is also observed during these period with aniline blue staining. Above results indicated multiple ZmCals may participate in the deposition of callose in maize anther. Therefore, ZmCals are necessary not only for reproductive organ but also for nutritive organ during maize growth and development. This study lays certain foundation for further investigating the roles of the callose synthase enzymes genes in maize.

胼胝质合酶基因( Cals )通常在抵抗环境胁迫以及调节高等植物的小孢子发育中起重要作用。但迄今为止，关于玉米中ZmCals基因的研究报道较少。在这项研究中，鉴定了十个ZmCals基因，它们分布在玉米的四个染色体上。所有 ZmCals 蛋白都包含葡聚糖合酶结构域和 Fks1 结构域。对来自公共数据库的 RNA-seq 数据进行了分析，结果表明ZmCals参与了各种组织的发育，并且特别是在年轻组织中呈现出强烈的表达。qRT-PCR 分析表明，大多数ZmCals在与玉米自交系B73的拔节期（V6期）的根、茎和叶中高度表达。10个ZmCals基因中有7个在玉米花药发育过程中表现出较高的表达，特别是从第6阶段到第8b阶段，苯胺蓝染色期间还观察到胼胝质的动态积累过程。以上结果表明多种ZmCals可能参与了玉米花药中胼胝质的沉积。因此，ZmCals不仅是生殖器官所必需的，而且是玉米生长发育过程中营养器官所必需的。本研究为进一步研究胼胝质合酶基因在玉米中的作用奠定了一定的基础。