title: The maize mutant barren stalk1 is defective in axillary meristem development.
abstract: barren stalk1 is a recessive mutant of maize that has no tassel branches, spikelets, tillers, or ears. Here we present a detailed characterization of the ba1 mutant phenotype, including scanning electron microscopy of developing inflorescences, in situ hybridization analysis using a meristem marker, molecular mapping, and genetic analysis demonstrating an epistatic relationship between ba1 and teosinte branched1 (tb1). These data show that the primary defect in the ba1 mutant is a failure in axillary meristem development.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biology, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0116 USA.
authors.forename: Matthew K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Padilla
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt