Natural variation at sympathy for the ligule controls penetrance of the semidominant Liguleless narrow-R mutation in Zea mays.

ABSTRACT: Leaf architecture determines plant structural integrity, light harvesting, and economic considerations such as plant density. Ligules, junctions at the leaf sheath and blade in grasses, protect stalks from environmental stresses and, in conjunction with auricles, controls leaf angle. Previous studies in mutants have recessive liguleless mutants (lg1 and lg2) and dominant mutations in knotted1-like homeobox genes (Lg3-O, Lg4, and Kn1) involved in ligule development. Recently, a new semidominant liguleless mutant, Liguleless narrow (Lgn-R), has been characterized in maize that affects ligule and auricle development and results in a narrow leaf phenotype. We show that quantitative genetic variation affects penetrance of Lgn-R. To examine the genetic architecture underlying Lgn-R expressivity,

SUBMITTER: Buescher EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4267926 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature