The control of spikelet meristem identity by the branched silkless1 gene in maize.
Most of the world's food supply is derived from cereal grains that are borne in a unique structure called the spikelet, the fundamental unit of inflorescence architecture in all grasses. branched silkless1 (bd1) is a maize mutation that alters the identity of the spikelet meristem, causing indeterminate branches to form in place of spikelets. We show that bd1 encodes a putative ERF transcription factor that is conserved in different grasses and is expressed in a distinct domain of the spikelet meristem. Its expression pattern suggests that signaling pathways regulate meristem identity from lateral domains of the spikelet meristem.
Chuck
George
G
Plant Gene Expression Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA. gchuck@nature.berkeley.edu
Muszynski
Michael
M
Kellogg
Elizabeth
E
Hake
Sarah
S
Schmidt
Robert J
RJ
D000483:Alleles; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D016368:Frameshift Mutation; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017343:Genes, Plant; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D018519:Meristem / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010641:Phenotype; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C093680:ethylene-responsive element binding protein