Genome Biology

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MicroRNA, sex determination and floral meristem determinacy in maize

Jo A Banks

Author Affiliations

Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA

Genome Biology 2008, 9:204 doi:10.1186/gb-2008-9-1-204

Published: 30 January 2008

Abstract

Sex determination in the flowers of maize involves the abortion of stamen or pistil development. Recent work investigating genes that control this process reveals that a microRNA is involved in both the sex determination of the male inflorescence and its growth pattern.