Characterizing the Role of Pectin in Cell Wall Composition and Organ Initiation in Maize

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Daniel J Maynard (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Plants are constantly developing new organs throughout their life and these organs arise from stem cell pools called meristems. Organ primordia are generated on the flanks of meristems when stem cells differentiate into new cell types. Newly differentiated cells are unable to move freely because they are surrounded by a rigid cell wall. To allow for proper organ outgrowth, the cell wall must be modified to allow for cell expansion. Organ initiation is closely linked to, and regulated by, distributions of the plant hormone auxin. The cell wall polysaccharide, pectin, is modified at the sites of auxin accumulation and is required for organ outgrowth, at least in some plants. Previous work in maize showed that floral meristems have differing localization of pectin that may coincide with differences in organ fate. We characterized meristems in the female inflorescence which give rise to different structures and different number of primordia. Mutants with altered floral meristem determinacy were assessed to determine if changes in floral meristem activity correlated with changes in pectin localization. The shoot apical meristem was assessed, and we found that pectin localization is not uniform between vegetative meristems and floral meristems. We found that meristems of the inflorescence localize pectin differently and that pectin modification is necessary for some organ development. Mutants that lose determinacy localize pectin differently which suggests that pectin composition in the cell wall is intimately linked to proper meristem activity and floral organ primordia formation.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2023

Subjects

Maize, Pectin

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