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Sectors of liguleless-1 tissue interrupt an inductive signal during maize leaf development
1Plant Biology Department, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
The Plant Cell
|August 1, 1991
Summary
The liguleless-1 (lg1) gene in maize is crucial for intercellular communication during leaf development. Mutant lg1 sectors disrupt this signaling, affecting ligule and auricle formation.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Developmental genetics
- Maize genetics
Background:
- The ligule and auricles are key structures separating the leaf blade and sheath in maize.
- These structures are absent in liguleless-1 (lg1) mutant maize leaves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the liguleless-1 (lg1) gene in maize leaf development.
- To elucidate the function of lg1 in intercellular communication and coordinated development of the ligular region.
Main Methods:
- Induction of chromosome breakage using X-rays to create genetically mosaic maize plants.
- Analysis of ligule and auricle development in mosaic leaves with lg1 mutant sectors.
Main Results:
- lg1 mutant sectors disrupt the normal formation and positioning of the ligule and auricles.
- Disruption of lg1 function interferes with intercellular communication necessary for ligular region development.
- A model suggests lg1 is required for transmitting an inductive signal from the midvein to the leaf margin.
Conclusions:
- The lg1 gene product is essential for the transmission of an inductive signal during maize leaf development.
- lg1 may be involved in the reception of this developmental signal.
- The lg1 gene plays a critical role in coordinating cellular communication for proper leaf morphology.