An Altered State of a Specific en Regulatory Element Induced in a Maize Tiller

There are numerous states of the regulatory element, Enhancer (En). With specific receptor alleles, such as a2m(r-pa-pu) or a2m(r), specific mutability patterns are expressed. One specific derivative En allele, En-v (En-variable), was originally identified with a coarse pattern of mutability with the a2m(r-pa-pu) allele and giving progeny with varied En expression (standard to reduced within an ear progeny). Derivatives of En-v were subsequently found on numerous occasions to give only a very reduced expression (fewer mutant spots) with the a2m(r-pa-pu) allele in the ears derived from the main stalk of the corn plant. When a comparison is made of the effect of this changed En-v state between tiller ears and main stalk ears of the same plant, the tiller ears show an increased level of En-v expression (coarse pattern), while the main-stalk ears continue to show the very reduced level of En-v expression (low frequency of very late variegation). This increased level of mutability of the tiller ears is maintained when transmitted through the main-stalk ear in the subsequent generation. These results indicate that heritable alterations of controlling elements can be produced by endogenous environmental factors present during normal plant development.