Cytological characterization of the embryo-lethal mutantdek-1 of maize

Summary The recessive embryo-lethal mutantdek-1 of maize, showing arrest of embryo development at the proembryo stage, lack of carotenoids and anthocyanins and absence in the endosperm of the aleurone layer, was characterized at a cytological level. Cytofluorimetric analysis excluded endoreduplication or polyploidization events in mutant embryonic cells, in spite of an evident increase in nucleolus and nucleus diameters.The data seem to point to an involvement ofDek-1 in the progression of the embryo toward specific developmental steps and in the differentiation of the aleurone layer in the endosperm. Cellular proliferation is not affected by the mutation, as is shown by DNA replication even after the arrest in development and by the possibility of inducing callus from mutant embryos.Abbreviation DAP days after pollination