mRNA-sequence of rice mel2 mutant anthers during meiotic transition

In flowering plants, a number of male sporogenous cells in a same anther locule enter meiotic process synchronously. Rice RNA binding protein MEL2 regulate proper timing of synchronous meiotic transition. This study aimed to know the impact of mutation in MEL2 on gene expression levels during meiotic transition in anther. The analysis demonstrated that a subset of mRNAs encoding meiotic protein was decreased in mel2 mutant indicating MEL2 function is essential for the expression of meiotic genes in premeiotic rice anthers.