Ontogeny of the maize shoot apical meristem.
The maize (Zea mays) shoot apical meristem (SAM) arises early in embryogenesis and functions during stem cell maintenance and organogenesis to generate all the aboveground organs of the plant. Despite its integral role in maize shoot development, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of SAM initiation. Laser microdissection of apical domains from developing maize embryos and seedlings was combined with RNA sequencing for transcriptomic analyses of SAM ontogeny. Molecular markers of key events during maize embryogenesis are described, and comprehensive transcriptional data from six stages in maize shoot development are generated. Transcriptomic profiling before and after SAM initiation indicates that organogenesis precedes stem cell maintenance in maize; analyses of the first three lateral organs elaborated from maize embryos provides insight into their homology and to the identity of the single maize cotyledon. Compared with the newly initiated SAM, the mature SAM is enriched for transcripts that function in transcriptional regulation, hormonal signaling, and transport. Comparisons of shoot meristems initiating juvenile leaves, adult leaves, and husk leaves illustrate differences in phase-specific (juvenile versus adult) and meristem-specific (SAM versus lateral meristem) transcript accumulation during maize shoot development. This study provides insight into the molecular genetics of SAM initiation and function in maize.
Department of Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14583, USA.
Elizabeth M
EM
Takacs
Jie
J
Li
Chuanlong
C
Du
Lalit
L
Ponnala
Diane
D
Janick-Buckner
Jianming
J
Yu
Gary J
GJ
Muehlbauer
Patrick S
PS
Schnable
Marja C P
MC
Timmermans
Qi
Q
Sun
Dan
D
Nettleton
Michael J
MJ
Scanlon
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D061346:Laser Capture Microdissection; D018519:Meristem / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D042282:Microdissection; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D059467:Transcriptome; D003313:Zea mays / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D018749:RNA, Plant