SMZ — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB062460 (ZmSMZ, also known as ZmTOE2) encodes a DNA-binding transcription factor with transcription corepressor, coactivator, and cis-regulatory region binding activity, localised to the nucleus, cytoplasm, and transcription regulator complex. In maize, the gene is associated with ear and shoot apical meristem development, sex determination, sporangia development, regulation of floral organ abscission, seed abscission and dehiscence, as well as regulation of starch biosynthesis, hormone transport and anabolism, and downregulation of innate immune responses. It is linked to numerous agronomic traits including ear diameter, kernel number per row, tassel branch number, seed set percent, plant male sterility, spikelet number, grains per spike, and sensitivity to gibberellic acid, jasmonic acid, cytokinin and brassinosteroids. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to flowering time, vegetative phase change, inflorescence architecture, spikelet determinacy, seed shattering, and grain yield traits.