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Analyses of mutants of three genes that influence root hair development in Z ea mays (Gramineae) suggest that root hairs are dispensable
Author(s) -
Wen TsuiJung,
Schnable Patrick S.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1994.tb15564.x
Subject(s) - primordium , biology , root hair , mutant , botany , gametophyte , gene , genetics , pollen
Root hairs are specialized epidermal cells that are thought to play an important role in plant nutrition by facilitating the absorption of water and nutrients. Three maize mutants with abnormal root hair morphologies ( rthl, rth2 , and rth3 ) have been isolated from Mutator transposon stocks. All three root hair mutant phenotypes are controlled by single recessive alleles. The rthl mutant initiates normal‐looking root hair primordia that fail to elongate. The normal‐looking root hair primordia of the rth2 mutant elongate to only approximately one‐fifth to one‐fourth the length of wild type root hairs. Like rth1 primordia, rth3 primordia undergo little elongation. However, unlike the relatively normal‐looking rth1 primordia, rth3 primordia are distinctly abnormal when viewed through a scanning electron microscope. The rth1 mutant exhibits pleiotropic nutrient deficiencies, while the rth2 and rth3 mutants grow vigorously. This finding suggests that under some environmental conditions, root hairs are less important to plant growth than has been previously thought. The rthl, rth2 , and rth3 genes have been mapped to chromosomes 1L, 5L, and 1S, respectively, via crosses with BA translocation stocks. The rth2 allele exhibits reduced transmission through the male gametophyte, but a normal rate of transmission through female gametophytes; rth1 and rth3 are transmitted at normal rates.