27th Annual Student Research Conference
Mapping and Characterization of a Maize Leaf Polarity Mutant: rld-5409
Lauren A. Choate
Dr. Brent Buckner, Faculty Mentor
Leaf polarity is developmentally specified during the emergence of leaf primordia. The recessive maize mutant rld-5409 exhibits defects in leaf polarity ultimately contributing to an upward rolling of the leaf blade. The goal of this project was to fine map the rld-5409 mutation and to assess how the mutation affects the dynamics of the leaf polarity gene network. Fine mapping of the mutation responsible for the rld-5409 phenotype placed it within a 15 cM region on the distal end of chromosome 4. In order to characterize the molecular pathways affected in the mutant, the transcriptome of young leaf primordia from rld-5409 and wild-type apices were analyzed by coupling laser capture microdissection, qRT-PCR, and RNA-Seq. By identifying the causative gene for rld-5409, a more complete understanding of the establishment of leaf polarity will be achieved.
Keywords: leaf polarity, RNA-Seq, fine mapping
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 404-3
Location: MG 1098
Time: 3:00