Network analyses identify a transcriptomic proximodistal prepattern in the maize leaf primordium

The formation of developmental boundaries is a common feature multicellular plants and animals, impacts the initiation, structure function all organs. Maize leaves comprise proximal sheath that encloses stem, distal photosynthetic blade projects away from plant axis. An epidermally derived ligule joint-like auricle develop at blade/sheath boundary maize leaves. Mutations disturbing ligule/auricle region disrupt leaf patterning impact architecture, yet it unclear how this established. Targeted microdissection followed by transcriptomic analyses young primordia were utilized to construct co-expression network associated with development boundary. Evidence presented for proximodistal gradients gene expression establish prepatterned in primordia, before morphological initiation older This work presents conceptual model spatiotemporal domains, provides rich resource candidate interactions future investigations mechanisms maize.