Reference Tsiantis, M et al. Maize Genetics Conference Abstracts 40 Maize DB Reference Tsiantis, M et al. In order to identify genes that are themselves essential for the elaboration of leaf pattern, we are searching for recessive mutations that disrupt cell fate in the maize leaf. By screening maize lines mutagenized by the transposable element Spm, a recessive mutant which exhibits such a phenotype was identified.
Mutant plants are of reduced stature and have an overall twisted morphology.
Southern analysis of segregating populations of twd , demonstrated that a band which hybridises to Spm segregates with the mutant allele. This fragment was cloned and shown to be an Spm insertion in a gene encoding a putative myb-like transcriptional regulator. DNA blot analysis suggests that the rough sheath 2 reference allele represents a deletion of that gene and analysis of alleles derived from Mutator mutagenized lines reveal polymorphisms segregating with the mutation. These data suggest we have isolated the rs2 gene. The possible role of the gene product in maize leaf development will be discussed.