The tomato Blind gene encodes a MYB transcription factor that controls the formation of lateral meristems.

ABSTRACT: The multitude of forms observed in flowering plants is largely because of their ability to establish new axes of growth during postembryonic development. This process is initiated by the formation of secondary meristems that develop into vegetative or reproductive branches. In the blind and torosa mutants of tomato, initiation of lateral meristems is blocked during shoot and inflorescence development, leading to a strong reduction in the number of lateral axes. In this study, it is shown that blind and torosa are allelic. The Blind gene has been isolated by positional cloning, and it was found that the mutant phenotype is caused by a loss of function of an R2R3 class Myb gene. RNA interference-induced blind phenocopies confirmed the identity of the isolated gene. Double mutant analysis sho

SUBMITTER: Schmitz G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC117430 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature