The Maize <i>glossy13</i> Gene, Cloned via BSR-Seq and Seq-Walking Encodes a Putative ABC Transporter Required for the Normal Accumulation of Epicuticular Waxes

<div><p>Aerial plant surfaces are covered by epicuticular waxes that among other purposes serve to control water loss. Maize <i>glossy</i> mutants originally identified by their “glossy” phenotypes exhibit alterations in the accumulation of epicuticular waxes. By combining data from a BSR-Seq experiment and the newly developed Seq-Walking technology, GRMZM2G118243 was identified as a strong candidate for being the <i>glossy13</i> gene. The finding that multiple EMS-induced alleles contain premature stop codons in GRMZM2G118243, and the one knockout allele of <i>gl13</i>, validates the hypothesis that gene GRMZM2G118243 is <i>gl13</i>. Consistent with this, GRMZM2G118243 is an ortholog of AtABCG32 (<i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>), HvABCG31 (barley) and OsABCG31 (rice), which encode ABCG subfamily transporters involved in the trans-membrane transport of various secondary metabolites. We therefore hypothesize that <i>gl13</i> is involved in the transport of epicuticular waxes onto the surfaces of seedling leaves.</p>