Dec 3, 2004SAS middle school gifted science class. MaizeGDB project with the mutants of maize (corn) At FSU in the biology computer lab, the SAS students produced mutant phenotype images and captions for a maize genetics database. Pictures from the Bass field summer 2004 were selected by the students from a photo gallery. They made a figure legend and submitted it to Dr. Carolyn Lawrence, curator at the MaizeGDB, Iowa State University, Ames, IA. The SAS images that follow will be added to a large online database that is used by many plant geneticists located all over the world. For more information, contact Dr. Bass at or see the maize mapping project homepage

1553_sr_P1-ww_101D_1384 striate leaves1 (sr1) (sr1 P1-ww from stock 101D 12/03). The phenotype caused by the striate mutation is long white stripes of various sizes, especially common on lower leaves. (contributed by Z.E., SAS middle school class, Leon Co., Tallahassee, FL.)

striate leaves1 striate leaves1 mutants have many white stripes on the mature leaves. Contributed by Charlene Kormondy and Julia Kunberger, SAS Middle School Mentorship Program, Leon Co., Tallahassee, FL.)

Andrew and Erika present… 1571_al1_203b_1416

albescent plant1 (al1) - An albino mutant of the corn plant which dies young because it is unable to undergo photosynthesis. The only way these plants exist is because they feed off the seed endosperm and then some of the leaves are green, temporarily supporting the growth of large white leaves. The veins are exposed, making them appear pink. (Submitted by Andrew and Erika, SAS middle school, Leon Co., Tallahassee, FL.)

The lazy plant1 (la1) mutant. Lazy is from a non-lethal mutation that causes the plant to appear to defy the basic law of gravity. (This picture was found at cytomaize.org and contributed by Will Taber & Stephen Hanf, SAS middle school class, Leon Co., Tallahassee, FL)

The corn mutant albescent plant1 (al1), summer (Submitted by Martha Swenson, SAS middle school class, Leon Co., Tallahassee, FL.)

Rolled leaf1 (Rld1). The mutant phenotype of three Rld1 plants are shown from the summer 2004 field. (Contributed by: Andrew Jernigan and Connor Marshall, SAS middle school class, Leon Co., Tallahassee, FL.)

Two albescent plant1 (al1) mutants. (Submitted by Carolina Kidwell-Bozeman and Savannah Davy, SAS middle school, Leon Co., Tallahassee, FL.)

The P1-wr or Pericarp color1- wr (P1-wr) gene, silk color, from summer This allele of the P1 gene makes the plant’s silks turn a pink color. This is not a lethal mutation. This mutation also causes the cob to turn a red/pinkish color. (contributed by Cassie and Krista, SAS middle school class, Leon Co., Tallahassee, FL.)

j1 or japonica striping1 mutant plant. This mutation causes white stripes on the leaves. It is not lethal. (Contributed by Sarah H-T. SAS middle school class, Leon Co., Tallahassee, FL.)