An abnormal growth mutant in maize has a defective mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene.
We describe a new maternally inherited maize mutation, nonchromosomal stripe 5 (NCS5), that adversely affects plant growth and yield. Mutant plants are characterized by reduced height, defective yellow striping on leaves, and aborted kernels on ears. NCS5 striped plants carry both normal and partially deleted versions of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 2 gene and exhibit greatly reduced levels of cox2 transcripts when compared with nonstriped control plants. Other mitochondrial genes and their mRNAs are not affected. Thus, the defective plant phenotype is correlated with a reduction in the number of functional cytochrome oxidase subunit 2 genes. The NCS5 mutant mitochondrial genome appears to have arisen by amplification of a rare homologous recombination product.
Newton
K J
KJ
Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
Knudsen
C
C
Gabay-Laughnan
S
S
Laughnan
J R
JR
D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV