RNA-Seq analysis was performed with total RNA isolated from WT and mutant endosperms at 12 DAP

We performed a molecular characterization of the maize small kernel mutant with endosperm developmental deficiency phenotypes.To elucidate how SMK8 affects kernel development, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and the results revealed numerous differentially expressed genes related to storage proteins and starch biosynthesis and biosynthesis of amino acids. Three biological repeats of the Endosperm tissue from smk8-ref (14_M1, 14_M2, 14_M3) and WT (14_WT1, 14_WT2, 14_WT3) at 12 DAP were used for RNA sequencing