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The maize disorganized aleurone layer 1 and 2 (dil1, dil2) mutants lack control of the mitotic division plane in the aleurone layer of developing endosperm

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Abstract

The maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm consists of an epidermal like layer of isodiametric aleurone cells surrounding a central body of starchy endosperm cells. In disorgal1 (dil1) and disorgal2 (dil2) mutants the control of the mitotic division plane is relaxed or missing, resulting in mature grains with disorganized aleurone layers. In addition to orientation of the division plane, both the shape and size of the aleurone cells are affected, and often more than one layer of aleurone cells is present. Homozygous dil1 and dil2 grains are shrunken due to reduced accumulation of starchy endosperm and premature developmental arrest of the embryo, and mature mutant grains germinate at a very low rate and fail to develop into plants. However, homozygous mutant plants can be obtained through embryo rescue, revealing that both mutants have an irregular leaf epidermis as well as roots with a strongly reduced number of root hairs and aberrant root hair morphology. Our results suggest the presence of common regulatory mechanisms for the control of cell division orientation in the aleurone and plant epidermis.

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Abbreviations

DAP:

days after pollination

dek:

defective kernel mutant

dil:

disorganized aleurone layer mutant

GUS:

β-glucuronidase

LM:

light microscopy

PPB:

pre-prophase band

SEM:

scanning electron microscopy

TUSC:

Trait Utility System for Corn

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Acknowledgements

We thank Karin S. Olsen, Peter Sekkelsten, Berit Morken, Audrun Utskarpen and Christer R. Nielsen for technical assistance and mutant screening, and Lizabeth C. Meeley for field support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, A DuPont company, Johnston, IA 50131, USA

    Robert B. Meeley, Jerry Ranch & Odd-Arne Olsen

  2. Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Norway, P.O. Box 5040, 1432,  Ås, Norway

    Stein Erik Lid, Ronald H. Al, Trygve Krekling, Hilde-Gunn Opsahl-Ferstad & Odd-Arne Olsen

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  1. Stein Erik Lid
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  2. Ronald H. Al
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  3. Trygve Krekling
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  4. Robert B. Meeley
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  5. Jerry Ranch
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  6. Hilde-Gunn Opsahl-Ferstad
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  7. Odd-Arne Olsen
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Correspondence to Odd-Arne Olsen.

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Lid, S.E., Al, R.H., Krekling, T. et al. The maize disorganized aleurone layer 1 and 2 (dil1, dil2) mutants lack control of the mitotic division plane in the aleurone layer of developing endosperm. Planta 218, 370–378 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-003-1116-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-003-1116-2

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