@article{fdi:010052936,
  title = {{I}nactivation of a {DNA} methylation pathway in maize reproductive organs results in apomixis-like phenotypes},
  author = {{G}arcia-{A}guilar, {M}. and {M}ichaud, {C}aroline and {L}eblanc, {O}livier and {G}rimanelli, {D}aniel},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}pomictic plants reproduce asexually through seeds by avoiding both meiosis and fertilization. {A}lthough apomixis is genetically regulated, its core genetic component(s) has not been determined yet. {U}sing profiling experiments comparing sexual development in maize ({Z}ea mays) to apomixis in maize-{T}ripsacum hybrids, we identified six loci that are specifically downregulated in ovules of apomictic plants. {F}our of them share strong homology with members of the {RNA}-directed {DNA} methylation pathway, which in {A}rabidopsis thaliana is involved in silencing via {DNA} methylation. {A}nalyzing loss-of-function alleles for two maize {DNA} methyltransferase genes belonging to that subset, dmt102 and dmt103, which are downregulated in the ovules of apomictic plants and are homologous to the {A}rabidopsis {CHROMOMETHYLASE}s and {DOMAINS} {REARRANGED} {METHYLTRANSFERASE} families, revealed phenotypes reminiscent of apomictic development, including the production of unreduced gametes and formation of multiple embryo sacs in the ovule. {L}oss of {DMT}102 activity in ovules resulted in the establishment of a transcriptionally competent chromatin state in the archesporial tissue and in the egg cell that mimics the chromatin state found in apomicts. {I}nterestingly, dmt102 and dmt103 expression in the ovule is found in a restricted domain in and around the germ cells, indicating that a {DNA} methylation pathway active during reproduction is essential for gametophyte development in maize and likely plays a critical role in the differentiation between apomictic and sexual reproduction.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}lant {C}ell},
  volume = {22},
  numero = {10},
  pages = {3249--3267},
  ISSN = {1040-4651},
  year = {2010},
  DOI = {10.1105/tpc.109.072181},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010052936},
}