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The wandering carpel mutation of Zea mays (Gramineae) causes misorientation and loss of zygomorphy in flowers and two‐seeded kernels
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The wandering carpel mutation of Zea mays (Gramineae) causes misorientation and loss of zygomorphy in flowers and two‐seeded kernels

Erin E Irish, Eugene J Szymkowiak and Kathryn Garrels
American Journal of Botany, Vol.90(4), pp.551-560
04/2003
DOI: 10.3732/ajb.90.4.551
PMID: 21659148
url
https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.90.4.551View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

We have isolated a new mutation, wandering carpel (wcr), which affects polarity of the maize flower, altering its orientation or converting it from zygomorphy to radial symmetry. These changes result in the development of embryos on locations other than the normal, acropetal side of the kernel. More than two carpels can develop into silks. More rarely, two ovules develop in a single ovary, giving rise to kernels with two seeds. The wcr mutation is a maternal‐sporophyte‐effect, semidominant mutation whose expression is background dependent. As spikelets with abnormal flowers are almost always paired with a normal spikelet, we hypothesize that WCR+ is required for establishing polarity in spikelet meristems during inflorescence development.
flower polarity caryopsis evolution grass florets ovule number spikelet development zygomorphy

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