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Title: THE CONTROL OF MAIZE SPIKELET MERISTEM FATE BY THE APETALA2-LIKE GENE INDETERMINATE SPIKELET1

Author
item CHUCK, GEORGE - USDA/UCB PGEC
item MEELEY, ROBERT - PIONEER HIBRED IOWA
item Hake, Sarah

Submitted to: Genes and Development
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Chuck, G., Meeley, R.B., Hake, S.C. 1998. The control of maize spikelet meristem fate by the APETALA2-like gene indeterminate spikelet1. Genes and Development 12(8):1145-1154.

Interpretive Summary: The orderly production of meristems with specific fates is crucial for the proper elaboration of plant architecture. We have identified a gene, ids1, that limits the number of floral meristems produced. Our analysis of the ids1 mutant phenotype and expression pattern indicates that ids1 specifies determinate fates by suppressing indeterminate growth within the spikelet meristem.

Technical Abstract: The orderly production of meristems with specific fates is crucial for the proper elaboration of plant architecture. The maize inflorescence meristem branches several times to produce lateral meristems with determinate fates. The first meristem formed, the spikelet pair meristem, produces two spikelet meristems, each of which produces two floral meristems. We have identified a gene called indeterminate spikelet1 ids1 that specifies a determinate spikelet meristem fate and thereby limits the number of floral meristems produced. In the absence of ids1 gene function, the spikelet meristem becomes indeterminate and produces additional florets. Members of the grass family vary in the number of florets within their spikelets, suggesting that ids1 may play a role in inflorescence architecture in other grass species. ids1 is a member of the APETALA2 AP2 gene family of transcription factors that has been implicated in a wide range of plant development roles. Expression of ids1 was detected in many types of lateral organ primordia as well as spikelet meristems. Our analysis of the ids1 mutant phenotype and expression pattern indicates that ids1 pecifies determinate fates by suppressing indeterminate growth within the spikelet meristem.