Journal of Plant Biochemistry & Physiology
Open Access

Abstract

Fine Mapping of a Retarded-Palea2 (REP2) Gene on Chromosome 9 in Rice

DeWei Yang, XiangHua Zheng, XinFu Ye, LiBin Lu, ChaoPing Cheng, Ning Ye and FengHuang Huang

Floral organ development influences plant reproduction and crop yield. However, mechanisms underlying the development of floral organs in specific group of species like grasses remain unclear. To understand how palea was formed, we identified a retarded-palea2 (rep2) mutant, which showed that the palea was degenerate, and the lemma was crooked and just like sickle shaped. Genetic analysis confirmed that the rep2 mutant phenotype was due to a single recessive gene mutation. F2 population derived from the rep2 mutant crossed with Oryza sative subsp. Japonica Taigeng16, was used for molecular mapping of the REP2 gene. Using simple sequence repeats (SSR) and insertion-deletion (Indel) markers, the REP2 gene was fine mapped into a 12.9 kb physical distance on chromosome 9, where two open reading frames were predicted. Sequence analysis indicated that a 10-bp-deletion was found in LOC_Os09g24480 between 8PW33 and the rep2 mutant. The rice RETARDED PALEA1 (REP1) gene was in this locus. Thus, we suspected that a 10-bp deletion in the rep2 mutant caused a frame shift and premature translational termination, and led to the functional alteration of the REP2 gene.