title: The maize fused leaves1 (fdl1) gene controls organ separation in the embryo and seedling shoot and promotes coleoptile opening.
abstract: The fdl1-1 mutation, caused by an Enhancer/Suppressor mutator (En/Spm) element insertion located in the third exon of the gene, identifies a novel gene encoding ZmMYB94, a transcription factor of the R2R3-MYB subfamily. The fdl1 gene was isolated through co-segregation analysis, whereas proof of gene identity was obtained using an RNAi strategy that conferred less severe, but clearly recognizable specific mutant traits on seedlings. Fdl1 is involved in the regulation of cuticle deposition in young seedlings as well as in the establishment of a regular pattern of epicuticular wax deposition on the epidermis of young leaves. Lack of Fdl1 action also correlates with developmental defects, such as delayed germination and seedling growth, abnormal coleoptile opening and presence of curly leaves showing areas of fusion between the coleoptile and the first leaf or between the first and the second leaf. The expression profile of ZmMYB94 mRNA-determined by quantitative RT-PCR-overlaps the pattern of mutant phenotypic expression and is confined to a narrow developmental window. High expression was observed in the embryo, in the seedling coleoptile and in the first two leaves, whereas RNA level, as well as phenotypic defects, decreases at the third leaf stage. Interestingly several of the Arabidopsis MYB genes most closely related to ZmMYB94 are also involved in the activation of cuticular wax biosynthesis, suggesting deep conservation of regulatory processes related to cuticular wax deposition between monocots and dicots.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: La Rocca
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali (DISAA), Produzione, Territorio, Energia Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Priscilla S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Manzotti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali (DISAA), Produzione, Territorio, Energia Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavaiuolo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali (DISAA), Produzione, Territorio, Energia Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbante
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dalla Vecchia
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali (DISAA), Produzione, Territorio, Energia Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Damiano
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gabotti
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, ENS de Lyon, INRA, CNRS, Université Lyon 1, Unité Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, F-69364 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Ghislaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gendrot
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Horner
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali (DISAA), Produzione, Territorio, Energia Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krstajic
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali (DISAA), Produzione, Territorio, Energia Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Persico
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rascio
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, ENS de Lyon, INRA, CNRS, Université Lyon 1, Unité Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, F-69364 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rogowsky
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali (DISAA), Produzione, Territorio, Energia Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy Université de Lyon, ENS de Lyon, INRA, CNRS, Université Lyon 1, Unité Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, F-69364 Lyon, France Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti la Nutrizione, l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarafoni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali (DISAA), Produzione, Territorio, Energia Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy gabriella.consonni@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Consonni
mesh_terms: D018548:Cotyledon / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D063246:Organogenesis, Plant; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Cuticle; ZmMYB94.; embryogenesis; epicuticular waxes; fused leaves1; shoot development