Genetic control of morphometric diversity in the maize shoot apical meristem

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9974
• Publication Date: 2015-11-20T10:41:12Z
• Authors: Samuel Leiboff; Xianran Li; Heng-Cheng Hu; Natalie Todt; Jinliang Yang; Xiao Li; Xiaoqing Yu; Gary J. Muehlbauer; Marja C. P. Timme...; Jianming Yu; Patrick S. Schnable; Michael J. Scanlon
• Keywords: Candidate gene; Phenotypic trait

Abstract The maize shoot apical meristem (SAM) comprises a small pool of stem cells that generate all above-ground organs. Although mutational studies have identified genetic networks regulating SAM function, little is known about morphological variation in natural populations. Here we report the use high-throughput image processing to capture rich size within diverse inbred panel. We demonstrate correlations between seedling and agronomically important adult traits such as flowering time, leaf node number. Combining phenotypes with 1.2 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) via genome-wide association study reveals unexpected morphology candidate genes. Analyses genes implicated hormone transport, cell division confirm trait-associated SNP alleles. Our data illustrate microscopic predictive morphometric associated not previously predicted regulate size.