Sexual reproduction in plants requires development of haploid gametophytes from somatic tissues. Pollen is the male gametophyte and develops within the stamen; defects in the somatic tissues of the stamen and in the male gametophyte itself can result in @entity4810 . The @entity2829 fuzzy tassel (fzt) mutant has a mutation in dicer-like1 (dcl1), which encodes a key enzyme required for microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. Many miRNAs are reduced in fzt, and fzt mutants exhibit a broad range of @entity245 , including @entity4810 . To gain further insight into the roles of miRNAs in @entity2829 stamen development, we conducted a detailed analysis of the @entity4810 defects in fzt mutants. Early development was normal in fzt mutant anthers, however fzt anthers arrested in late stages of anther maturation and did not dehisce. A minority of locules in fzt anthers also exhibited anther wall defects. At maturity, very little pollen in fzt anthers was viable or able to germinate. Normal pollen is tricellular at maturity; pollen from fzt anthers included a mixture of unicellular, bicellular, and tricellular pollen. Pollen from normal anthers is loaded with starch before dehiscence, however pollen from fzt anthers failed to accumulate starch. Our results indicate an absolute requirement for miRNAs in the final stages of anther and pollen maturation in @entity2829 . Anther wall defects also suggest that miRNAs have key roles earlier in anther development. We discuss candidate miRNAs and pathways that might underlie fzt anther defects, and also note that @entity4810 in fzt resembles water deficit-induced @entity4810 , highlighting a possible link between development and stress responses in plants.

Analysis of the XXXX dicer-like1 Mutant, fuzzy tassel, Implicates MicroRNAs in Anther Maturation and Dehiscence.

@entity2829 :: ('4577', 'Species') :: ['maize'] @entity245 :: ('MESH:D002658', 'Disease') :: ['developmental defects'] @entity4810 :: ('MESH:D007248', 'Disease') :: ['male sterility']
@entity2829 :: (4577,Species) :: ['Maize']
