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

分生组织是控制植物器官发生的细胞群。腋生分生组织之所以叫腋生分生组织，是因为它们产生于叶和茎的交界处或叶腋处。腋生分生组织产生分枝和花，因此在植物的结构和繁殖中起着关键作用。在玉米中，腋生分生组织产生穗芽，穗芽产生收获的食物来源。 腋生分生组织对植物的生长和发育至关重要，但对它们是如何发生和生长的却知之甚少。本研究的目的是确定玉米腋芽分生组织发生的机制。bif2基因是玉米腋芽分生组织发生的重要调控基因。植物生长激素，生长素，也在腋生分生组织的发生中起着关键作用。本研究的目的是利用生物化学、遗传学、分子生物学和生理学的方法来确定bif2控制玉米腋芽分生组织发生的机制。这项研究将确定bif2如何与生长素相互作用，并鉴定出在控制玉米腋芽分生组织起始中与bif2相互作用的其他基因和蛋白质，这项研究将为一名博士后研究人员和其他本科生提供培训。玉米是美国重要的农作物，本研究是对玉米穗芽和花的发生这一基本过程的研究。除了促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。

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.