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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #422402
Research Project: Management, Utilization, and Distribution of Maize Genetic Stocks and Associated Descriptive Information

Location: Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research

Title: Allelism of uncharacterized dwarf mutants in maize

Author
item Gustin Ii, Jeffery
item Zimmerman, Shane
item Sachs, Martin

Submitted to: microPublication Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/31/2025
Publication Date: 2/7/2025
Citation: Gustin II, J.L., Zimmerman, S.A., Sachs, M.M. 2025. Allelism of uncharacterized dwarf mutants in maize. microPublication Biology. https://doi.org/10.17912/micropub.biology.001504.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17912/micropub.biology.001504

Interpretive Summary: Gibberellic acid (GA) is a plant hormone that is important for plant growth and development. Mutant plants that lack GA display several characteristics such as a short stature and unusual flower development. These distinctive characteristics make GA mutants easy to identify and scientists, farmers, and gardeners have identified and isolated many GA mutants in many plant species. These so-called dwarf mutants have had a massive impact on crop production. They are the basis for the ‘green revolution’ in world agriculture and continue to be used in modern agriculture to regulate plant height to maximize yield. These mutants have also been critical for identifying the genes involved in GA metabolism and regulation in plants. The Maize Genetics Cooperation Stock Center maintains a large collection of uncharacterized dwarf corn mutants that have been identified and donated by corn researchers over the past century. These mutants represent an untapped resource for identifying new genes involved in regulating corn plant height. We characterized 20 of these dwarf mutants. As expected, most were mutations in genes that have already been characterized. However, we identified one line, d*-ts1, that appears to be a novel dwarf mutant. This mutant may help to expand our knowledge of GA action in the plants and help optimize corn plant height for higher yields.

Technical Abstract: Gibberellic acid (GA) is a phytohormone that is important for plant growth and development. Mutants in GA biosynthesis, signaling and metabolism have been critical to understanding the role GA plays in plants. GA mutants have also revolutionized global production of staple crops such as rice, wheat, and barley. GA mutants have been isolated in maize and characterization of the underlying genes has helped map the GA biosynthesis and signaling pathways. However, the number of maize dwarf mutants is far less than other species. Here, we identify new dwarf mutants that could benefit our understanding of maize plant height control.