[Use of homeotic mutation tasselseed2 for investigation of the action of maize meiotic genes during micro- and megasporogenesis].

The manifestation of the ms43 maize meiotic mutation in the megasporogenesis of ts2 ms43 double mutants has been studied. Combined genetical and cytological analysis of the progeny of diheterozygote selfing showed that the ms43 mei gene was not microsporogenesis-specific. The manifestation of ms43 in megasporogenesis of the double mutants proved to be affected by the ts2 mutation. It prevented formation of the phenotype characteristic of ms43 and distorted early developmental stages of the entire ovule. It is the first study of megasporogenesis in tasselseed2 mutant tassels. Cytological data on the afd1 mutation in single and double mutants are presented. Possible mechanisms of the interaction between the ms43 and ts2 mutations are discussed.