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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Plant Gene Expression Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #237400
Title: Translational Biology: From Arabidopsis Flowers to Grass Inflorescence Architecture

Author
item THOMPSON, BETH - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item Hake, Sarah

Submitted to: Plant Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2008
Publication Date: 1/1/2008
Citation: Thompson, B.E., Hake, S.C. 2008. Translational Biology: From Arabidopsis Flowers to Grass Inflorescence Architecture. Plant Physiology. 149(1):38-45.

Interpretive Summary: The review discusses findings in maize inflorescence development and presents the results in the context of comparisons ot Arabidopsis.

Technical Abstract: One of the key events in plant development is the initiation of lateral organs from the flanks of the meristem. In grasses, the inflorescence meristem (IM) reiteratively initiates a series of lateral meristems with slightly different fates. Our understanding of the genes and networks that regulate grass inflorescence architecture has dramatically expanded due to significant advances in resources and tools. Many of the modules that regulate meristem fate in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) are also present in the grasses. Genetic networks that regulate IM size and floral organ fate are partially conserved between Arabidopsis and grasses, whereas genetic networks that regulate grass-specific meristems are either unique to grasses or have different functions in dicots.