茎叶夹角的大小直接影响玉米种植密度，进而影响玉米的产量。对玉米茎叶夹角进行详细研究，了解其形成和调控的分子机理对玉米株型改良及密植具有重要的理论意义。叶枕是影响玉米茎叶夹角的关键部位。叶枕的大小、发育程度及机械强度直接影响着茎叶夹角的大小。研究叶枕的发育，构建叶枕发育网络调控系统，发掘影响茎叶夹角形成的关键基因，将极大促进我们对玉米茎叶夹角调控的认识。因而，本项目设计利用经典玉米叶枕突变体liguleless1、 liguleless2、ligule narrow, 生长素极性运输突变体br2及31个具有茎叶夹角大小差异的自交系群体，结合快速发展的TRAP-seq技术，对玉米叶枕发育进行详细研究。希望通过分子生物学、细胞生物学、功能基因组学、生物信息学相结合的方法，初步了解叶枕发育的网络调控系统，筛选到调控茎叶夹角的关键基因并对其进行深入研究，为玉米的耐密分子育种提供理论基础和候选基因。

Leaf angle directly affects the size of the planting density, thereby affecting the yield of maize. Understanding the formation and regulation mechanisms of leaf angle has important theoretical significance for maize architecture modification and close planting. Ligule is a key part in maize, whose size, developmental degree and mechanical strength directly affect leaf angle. Therefore, studying the development of leaf ligule, building the networks that control the regulation of ligule development, will greatly facilitate our understanding of the regulation of maize leaf angle. Thus, the project designs to use the classical maize liguleless mutants, e.g. liguleless1, liguleless2 and ligule narrow; polar auxin transporting mutant br2, as well as 31 inbred lines with leaf angle variation, combined with the rapid development of TRAP-seq sequencing technology to study the development of maize leaf ligule. We expect the combination of methods from molecular biology, cell biology, functional biology and bioinformatics will help to understand the regulation mechanisms of ligule development, facilitate the screening of the key genes that control the leaf angle, and provide useful information and candidate genes for maize breeding.