The cellular and genetic basis of inflorescence divergence between maize and teosinte
Yuebin Wang, Ruijie Mao, Yu Liu, Xing Guo, Nan Li, Qian Zhang, Manjun Cai, Xie Pingli, Yi Wang, Yun Luo, Qian Ding, Shenshen Wu, En Luo, Ling Ma, Zheng Luo, , Ning Yang
This study identifies cellular and genetic changes in maize and teosinte ears, showing how cytokinin signaling and transcription factor expression differences drive cob thickening and increased kernel number during domestication.
bioRxiv · Aug 27, 2026 · PreprintPlant Biology