zb4_AG_JJK_MS, Zebra Corn By Andrew Greenwood, Martha Swenson, and Julia Kunberger School of Arts & Sciences zebra crossbands4 (zb4), AG, JJK, MS,

zb4_AG_JJK_MS, About Our Project Throughout the semester, we have been studying mutant corn. We decided to study zebra Crossbands4 (zb4), a mutant known for its exotic stripes. This is our project. Slender, so slender Its stalk bends under dew— Little yellow ear -A Zen Poet

zb4_AG_JJK_MS, What is Wrong? Our mutant is called “Zebra” because of it’s zebra- like stripes on the leaves. The mutation is called zebra crossbands4 (zb4). The mutation has a recessive mode of inheritance. The zb4 gene has not yet been cloned. What causes these stripes?

zb4_AG_JJK_MS, What causes these stripes? There are many different theories on what causes the zebra-like stripes on the leaves. Scientists have not yet discovered the exact cause for the stripes. We have some simple theories based on our knowledge.

zb4_AG_JJK_MS, * Alleles = different forms of the same gene Genotype & Phenotype Chart Genotype of individual Phenotype of individual ZZ Homozygous Dominant 2 Dominant alleles Heterozygous 1 Dominant allele 1 recessive allele Homozygous recessive 2 recessive alleles Relationship of the pairs of alleles* Normal leaves (wild-type) Normal leaves (wild-type, carrier) Striped leaves (mutant) Zz zZ zz

zb4_AG_JJK_MS, Diagram Young Leaf Barely striped Middle-Aged Leaf Light stripes (developing) Old Leaf Vibrant yellow & green stripes

zb4_AG_JJK_MS, Growth Chart The mode of inheritance for zb4 is recessive Date Height Width Mean H Color 9/10 30 mm 1 mm 48.7 mm Pale green. Very small and weak. 9/ mm 15 mm 150 mm Red at base. Light green. NOT ZEBRA! Some leaves have dead patches. 10/ mm 10 mm 190 mm Yellow, brown, and green. Stems: purple. Starting to shrivel turn brown. Starting to die! Stopped growing and started dying.

zb4_AG_JJK_MS, (1938) HK Hayes. Zebra Seedling, zb4, has been located in chromosome 1. Maize Newsletter. Volume 12, page 1. (1939) HK Hayes. Recent Linkage studies in maize. III. Zebra Seedling-4. Genetics. Volume 24, page (1932) HK Hayes. Zebra Crossbands. Journal of Heredity. Volume 23, pages Discoverer and References

zb4_AG_JJK_MS, The End