Bif2 barren inflorescence2

The tassel has fewer branches, spikelets, florets and floral organs (McSteen and Hake 2001).

[4] Natural variation in bif2 alleles are associated with tassel branch number and plant height (Pressoir et al 2009).

Briggs and Johal 1992[6] Chromosome Location Based on B-A chromosomal translocation data and tight linkage to the RFLP marker umc67a (McSteen and Hake 2001)[2] and the 2010 B73_v2 maize reference genome sequence assembly.

Phenotypes Mutations in the gene produce plants where tassels, or male inflorescences have fewer branches, spikelets, florets and floral organs.

Natural variations of the bif2 gene have been found to affect tassel branch number and plant height (Pressoir et al 2009)[5] Gene Product Serine/threonine protein kinase that phosphorylates the PIN1a (Skirpan et al 2009)[8] and BA2 proteins in vitro.

barren inflorescence phenotype of recessive mutation in bif2, with greatly reduced number of tassel branches, spikelets, and anthers. Photographed by Paula McSteen, University of Missouri. Columbia, MO USA 65211.
Homozygous bif2-N2354 ear has barren patches. Courtesy of M Gerald Neuffer, Missouri USA