ONLINE IMAGE COLLECTION

About the Image

Tassel seed mutations in maize. Maize plants bear two different types of inflorescences, the tassel and the ears. The tassel is branched and has made flowers, while the ears are unbranched and have female flowers. This occurs by formation of initially hermaphroditic flowers, followed by the selective abortion of male reproductive organs (stamens) in ear flowers and of female reproductive organs (pistils) in tassel flowers. the tassel seed mutations alter this pattern by allowing pistils to develop in flowers on the tassel seed mutations, such as Ts6 and ts4, also cause extra branches to form in the tassel (Ts6, left) and on the ear (Ts6, right; ts4, center).

Class II seed mutations provide evidence for multiple types of inflorescence meristems in maize (Poaceae)