The maize mutant barren stalk1 is defective in axillary meristem development

barien stalk1 is a recessive mutant of maize that has no tassel branches, spikelets, tillers, or ears Here we present a detailed characterization of the bal mutant phenotype, including scanning electron microscopy of developing inflorescences, in situ hybridization analysis using a meristem marker, molecular mapping, and genetic analysis demonstrating an epistatic relationship between bal and teosinte branched1 (tb1) These data show that the primary defect in the baI mutant is it failure in axillary meristem development.