Maize (Zea mays L.) yield is limited by the poor availability of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in many arable areas worldwide.Phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) is a complex multigene trait,with a single gene contributing only a small percentage to the phenotype.Transcription factors (TFs) are very important as a single TF frequently coordinates the expression of multiple genes in response to environmental signals.Previous studies have indicated that the TFs AtPHR1 and OsPHR2 play important roles in the regulation of plant phosphorus accumulation.However,little is known about the functions of PHR-like genes in maize.In this study,a member of the MYB-CC family encoding a 449-amino acid protein,ZmPHR1,was isolated.The ZmPHR1 ∷ GFP fusion was localized in the nucleus,which indicates that ZmPHR1 is also a TF.