Transcriptomic dissection of gene functions in the stigmatic silks of maize across genetic, environmental and developmental contexts

Silks are the extraordinarily long stigmatic organs in corn that transition from well-protected, husk-encased environments into external, often harsh surroundings for pollen reception. Through a lens of genetic variation, this research documents how gene expression changes along their length and between encased and emerged states, offering a model for how stigmata develop and respond to their environment.