The regulation of leaf size in maize (Zea mays): A multidisciplinary investigation of mutants with decreased leaf size.

The major share of research on maize leaf growth focuses on the impact of environmental factors. Despite their importance, these data are limited for the understanding of key regulatory components in leaf growth. Therefore, our laboratory has identified 5 unique long leaf maize lines through screening and selection of chemically mutated maize lines. Consequently, the objective of this project is the characterisation of 3 long leaf mutants to improve our understanding in leaf growth regulation. Firstly, we will try to appoint the (single) mutation that causes the long leaf phenotype. We must validate whether the hypothesised mutation indeed causes the observed long leaf phenotype by selecting/creating an independent line with a mutation in the hypothetical gene. Next to this, we will evaluate whether the mutation affects the expression of certain genes/pathways. Secondly, there is a need for a more extensive examination of the longleaf phenotype. This will be done at the cellular level (where cell division and expansion, both defining leaf growth, will be determined in more detail) and at the whole-plant level. Finally, the outcome of the previous experiments will result in new information on which we can base targeted cellular analyses, metabolite and enzyme measurements.

Keywords:EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Disciplines:Plant biology

Project type:Collaboration project