TEOSINTE TO MAIZE - SOME ASPECTS OF MISSING BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA CONCERNING REGULATION OF FLAVONOID PATHWAYS

Flavonoid biochemical pathways, the end-products and their functions, molecular genetics, and the structural and regulatory genes in maize a nd teosinte are reviewed. Inadequate biochemical identifications and t erminology problems are emphasized. Tissue-specific expressions of fla vonoids in four tissues or organs of maize: anthers, pericarp, aleuron e, and vegetative parts are discussed. Genes of the female inflorescen ce, considered critical in the evolutionary conversion of the teosinte vegetative body and floral structures into that of maize, have been s tudied. However, only a few genes of the Cl regulatory family controll ing anthocyanin formation have been identified. Major biochemical and physiological data are still needed to understand this fascinating evo lutionary sequence. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .