ba1 — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB148990 (ba1, also known as ZmLAX1 or LAX1) on maize chromosome 3 encodes a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) DNA-binding transcription factor belonging to the IND-like family. The protein localises to the nucleus and exhibits RNA polymerase II-specific transcription factor activity and protein dimerization activity. ba1 is associated with tassel length, tassel primary branch number, tassel spike length, inflorescence size and branching, ear weight, ear diameter, ear length, kernel number per row, grain number, grain weight, grain yield, plant height, leaf number, leaf width, leaf length, leaf angle, tiller number, biomass yield, and anthesis time. It is linked to meristem development, organogenesis, ear development, stigma development, bract development, lateral growth, regulation of short-day and long-day photoperiodism and flowering, auxin anabolism, starch breakdown, and lipid transport. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to axillary meristem initiation, inflorescence architecture, spikelet fertility, and days to heading.