The liguleless2 gene of maize functions during the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive shoot apex

During a maize plant's (Zea mays) development, the shoot apical meristem (S AM) generates an apex that proceeds through different phases: juvenile vege tative, adult vegetative and reproductive. During each phase the structures produced are distinguishable from structures produced during the other pha ses. In this paper, we demonstrate that the LIGULELESS2 (LG2) function is r equired for an accurate vegetative to reproductive phase transition. The ma ize gene liguleless2 (lg2) has been shown to encode a basic-leucine zipper (bZIP) protein and to function in narrowing the region from which the ligul e and auricle develop in a typical maize leaf. Here we show that lg2 mutant plants can have reduced long tassel branches, extra vegetative leaves and extra husk leaves when compared to wild-type siblings. This indicates a rol e for the lg2 gene in the vegetative to reproductive phase transition of th e shoot apex. We also discuss a potential role for the lg2 gene in general phase transition processes.