Fig. 3

Dynamic co-expression analysis of gene pairs in the carotene biosynthetic pathway. a–f Co-expression patterns of LAPs are mediated by expression of the third genes. Each red dot indicates a maize line in which the expression of the LA-scouting gene (shown above each scatter plot) is high, a dark blue dot indicates a maize line in which LA-scouting gene expression is low, and a light blue dot indicates a maize line in which LA-scouting gene expression is moderate. The corresponding correlations are shown with matching colors. a Co-expression pattern of ZEP1 and VDE is mediated by expression of lcyE. b Co-expression pattern of lcyE and CYP97A is mediated by expression of crtRB1. c Co-expression pattern of ZEP1 and VDE is mediated by expression of lcyB. d Co-expression pattern of CYP97A and VDE is mediated by expression of lcyB. e Co-expression pattern of lcyB and CYP97A is mediated by expression of VDE. f Co-expression pattern of lcyB and ZEP1 is mediated by expression of VDE