The Role of Barren Inflorescence2 (bif2) in Axillary Meristem Initiation in Maize

贫瘠花序2（bif2）在玉米腋生分生组织起始中的作用

• 批准号: 0416616
• 负责人: Paula McSteen
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-09-01 至 2007-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0416616&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Role; Barren; Inflorescence2; bif2; Axillary

Meristems are groups of cells that control the initiation of organs in plants. Axillary meristems are so called because they arise at the junction or axil between the leaf and the stem. Axillary meristems give rise to branches and flowers and therefore play a key role in plant architecture and reproduction. In maize, axillary meristems give rise to the ear shoots which produce the food source that is harvested. Axillary meristems are critically important for plant growth and development yet how they initiate and grow is poorly understood. The aim of this proposal is to determine the mechanism by which axillary meristems initiate in maize.Two key players in the initiation of axillary meristems have been identified. The barren inflorescence2 (bif2) gene is an important regulator of axillary meristem initiation in maize. The plant growth hormone, auxin, also plays a critical role in axillary meristem initiation. The aim of this proposal is to use biochemical, genetic, molecular and physiological approaches to determine the mechanism by which bif2 controls the initiation of axillary meristems in maize. The proposed research will determine how bif2 interacts with auxin and will result in the identification of additional genes and proteins that interact with bif2 in the control of axillary meristem initiation in maize.This proposal will provide training for one postdoctoral researcher and additional undergraduate students. The research is on a basic fundamental process, initiation of ear shoots and flowers, in maize which is an important crop in the US. Besides advancing understanding of an important mechanism in plant development, the research also has potential practical applications for crop improvement.

分生组织是控制植物器官形成的细胞群。腋生分生组织之所以如此命名，是因为它们出现在叶和茎之间的交界处或腋处。腋生分生组织产生分枝和花朵，因此在植物结构和繁殖中发挥着关键作用。在玉米中，腋生分生组织产生穗芽，产生收获的食物来源。 腋生分生组织对于植物生长和发育至关重要，但人们对它们如何启动和生长却知之甚少。该提案的目的是确定玉米中腋生分生组织起始的机制。已经确定了腋生分生组织起始的两个关键参与者。贫瘠花序2（bif2）基因是玉米腋生分生组织起始的重要调节因子。植物生长激素，生长素，在腋生分生组织的起始中也起着关键作用。该提案的目的是利用生化、遗传、分子和生理学方法来确定 bif2 控制玉米腋生分生组织起始的机制。拟议的研究将确定 bif2 如何与生长素相互作用，并将导致鉴定与 bif2 相互作用的其他基因和蛋白质，以控制玉米腋生分生组织的起始。该提案将为一名博士后研究员和其他本科生提供培训。这项研究是针对美国重要作物玉米的一个基本过程，即穗芽和花的萌发。除了增进对植物发育重要机制的理解外，该研究还具有作物改良的潜在实际应用价值。