PRJNA545496
Transcriptomic dissection of gene functions in the stigmatic silks of maize across genetic, environmental and developmental contexts
Silks are the extraordinarily long stigmatic organs in corn that transition from well-protected, husk-encased environments into external, often harsh surroundings for pollen reception. Through a lens of genetic variation, this research documents how gene expression changes along their length and between encased and emerged states, offering a model for how stigmata develop and respond to their environment.