IDENTIFICATION OF AN R-LOCUS REGION THAT CONTROLS THE TISSUE SPECIFICITY OF ANTHOCYANIN FORMATION IN MAIZE

1 Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

The R locus in maize controls the tissue specificity of anthocyanin formation. Recombination between two different R-locus alleles with unique pigmentation domains has resulted in the generation of a nonparental allelic type that displays a third kind of tissue specificity. These novel changes in tissue specificity occurred in very low frequency (1 x 10-5). In light of this finding and of recent results concerning the regulation by R of the enzyme UDPG: flavonoid 3-0-glucosyltransferase, specified by the Bz locus, a model dealing with the genetic control of tissue-specific functions in multicellular organisms is proposed.

Submitted on July 10, 1979