Comparative analysis of genes affecting lodicules development in grasses

Abstract

Lodicules are grass-specific flower organs determined by B-class flower genes. Comparative analysis of the interaction of barley mutant tweaky spike with B-class barley mutant lax-a alleles and other known genes and mutants that affect lodicule development in barley, rice and maize allow to conclude that also other genes, not only of B and C classes, directly and indirectly determine lodicule expression. The barley mutant tweaky spike is among such genes and does not belong to B-class genes. Keywords: lodicule genetics, flower genes, barley mutants, tweaky spike, unusual inheritance