Gene duplication at the Fascicled ear1 locus controls the fate of inflorescence meristem cells in maize

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019218118
• Publication Date: 2021-02-13T05:52:50Z
• Authors: Yanfang Du; China Lunde; Yunfu Li; David Jackson; Sarah Hake; Zuxin Zhang
• Keywords: Tassel

Significance The maize ear is unbranched and terminates in a single point. tassel inflorescences of Fascicled mutants fail to grow as point instead are branched. This phenotype results from the misexpression duplicated transcription factors, ZMM8 DRL2. We hypothesize that these gene rearrangements create regulatory sequences cause early inflorescence meristems, thus activating laminar program, ablating meristem, producing branches. work demonstrates zmm8 drl2 must be restricted meristem maintain its terminal point, conversely, mechanism by which branching may imposed. Manipulation genes can used alter plant architecture, potentially improve agronomic traits.