A G protein alpha null mutation confers prolificacy potential in maize.

Daisuke Urano,Alan M Jones,David Jackson

doi:10.1093/jxb/erv215

Abstract

Plasticity in plant development is controlled by environmental signals through largely unknown signalling networks. Signalling coupled by the heterotrimeric G protein complex underlies various developmental pathways in plants. The morphology of two plastic developmental pathways, root system architecture and female inflorescence formation, was quantitatively assessed in a mutant compact plant 2 (ct2) lacking the alpha subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein complex in maize. The ct2 mutant partially compensated for a reduced shoot height by increased total leaf number, and had far more ears, even in the presence of pollination signals. The maize heterotrimeric G protein complex is important in some plastic developmental traits in maize. In particular, the maize Gα subunit is required to dampen the overproduction of female inflorescences.

Highlights

Maize, which originated in the Tehuacan Valley of Mexico, is a large grain plant and the most widely grown crop (Long and Fritz, 2001; Doebley, 2004)
The maize heterotrimeric G protein complex is important in some plastic developmental traits in maize
Development of productive ear shoots on branches from multiple nodes is common in teosinte, it is occasionally observed in maize, where it is referred to as prolificacy (McClelland and Janssen, 1929; Frank and Hallauer, 1997; Moulia et al, 1999)

Summary

Introduction

Maize, which originated in the Tehuacan Valley of Mexico, is a large grain plant and the most widely grown crop (Long and Fritz, 2001; Doebley, 2004). The morphology of two plastic developmental pathways, root system architecture and female inflorescence formation, was quantitatively assessed in a mutant compact plant 2 (ct2) lacking the alpha subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein complex in maize. The ct2 mutant partially compensated for a reduced shoot height by increased total leaf number, and had far more ears, even in the presence of pollination signals.

Results

Conclusion