Faculty Publications

Organogenesis Of Fascicled Ear Mutant Inflorescences In Maize (Poaceae)

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Apical meristem, Development, Inflorescence, Maize mutant, Organogenesis, Poaceae, Zea mays

Journal/Book/Conference Title

American Journal of Botany

Volume

84

Issue

6

First Page

723

Last Page

734

Abstract

The ontogeny of staminate tassels and pistillate ears in the maize mutant Fascicled ear was examined using scanning electron microscopy. The normal pattern of inflorescence development is perturbed by the Fascicled ear mutation at the transition stage. The Fascicled ear mutation promotes the development of an abnormal transition stage axis that is both shorter and broader than the wild type. The inflorescence apical meristem then undergoes a bifurcation, and two inflorescence axes arise in place of a single axis. Each derived inflorescence apical meristem may undergo a similar perturbation sequence. This expression of the Fascicled ear mutation may be repeated one to several times, which leads to the development of a fascicled pistillate inflorescence and a fascicled central spike in the staminate inflorescence. The apical meristems of some tassel branches are also bifurcated. Subsequent organogenesis during paired-spikelet and floral development in Fascicled ear plants follows the pattern of normal maize. However, triplet spikelets are occasionally observed. The organogenic disruption by the Fascicled ear mutation that we describe will aid genetic and molecular analysis on the regulation of inflorescence development in maize and other members of the genus Zea.

Department

Department of Biology

Original Publication Date

1-1-1997

DOI of published version

10.2307/2445808

Link to Full Text

Comments?

Share

COinS