Analysis of the Maize dicer-like1 Mutant, fuzzy tassel, Implicates MicroRNAs in Anther Maturation and Dehiscence

dc.contributor.authorField, Sterling
dc.contributor.authorThompson, Beth
dc.date.accessioned2016-02-08T21:30:21Z
dc.date.available2016-02-08T21:30:21Z
dc.date.issued2016-01-08
dc.description.abstractSexual reproduction in plants requires development of haploid gametophytes from somatic tissues. Pollen is the male gametophyte and develops within the stamen; defects in the somatic tissues of the stamen and in the male gametophyte itself can result in male sterility. The maize fuzzy tassel (fzt) mutant has a mutation in dicer-like1 (dcl1), which encodes a key enzyme required for microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. Many miRNAs are reduced in fzt, and fzt mutants exhibit a broad range of developmental defects, including male sterility. To gain further insight into the roles of miRNAs in maize stamen development, we conducted a detailed analysis of the male sterility defects in fzt mutants. Early development was normal in fzt mutant anthers, however fzt anthers arrested in late stages of anther maturation and did not dehisce. A minority of locules in fzt anthers also exhibited anther wall defects. At maturity, very little pollen in fzt anthers was viable or able to germinate. Normal pollen is tricellular at maturity; pollen from fzt anthers included a mixture of unicellular, bicellular, and tricellular pollen. Pollen from normal anthers is loaded with starch before dehiscence, however pollen from fzt anthers failed to accumulate starch. Our results indicate an absolute requirement for miRNAs in the final stages of anther and pollen maturation in maize. Anther wall defects also suggest that miRNAs have key roles earlier in anther development. We discuss candidate miRNAs and pathways that might underlie fzt anther defects, and also note that male sterility in fzt resembles water deficit-induced male sterility, highlighting a possible link between development and stress responses in plants.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipECU Open Access Publishing Support Funden_US
dc.identifier.citationField S, Thompson B (2016) Analysis of the Maize dicer-like1 Mutant, fuzzy tassel, Implicates MicroRNAs in Anther Maturation and Dehiscence. PLoS ONE 11(1): e0146534. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0146534en_US
dc.identifier.doi10.1371/journal.pone.0146534
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10342/5192
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.relation.urihttp://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0146534en_US
dc.subjectPollenen_US
dc.subjectStamensen_US
dc.subjectMicroRNAsen_US
dc.subjectAnthersen_US
dc.subjectMaizeen_US
dc.subjectCellular stress responsesen_US
dc.subjectFlowering plantsen_US
dc.titleAnalysis of the Maize dicer-like1 Mutant, fuzzy tassel, Implicates MicroRNAs in Anther Maturation and Dehiscenceen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
ecu.journal.issue1
ecu.journal.namePLoS ONE
ecu.journal.pagese0146534
ecu.journal.volume11

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