Bif2 barren inflorescence2

"bif2 barren inflorescence2" gene in Maize.
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Function. Regulation of auxin transport during axillary Meristem and lateral organ initiation.
Summary The "bif2" mutation affects all axillary meristems in the plant. The tassel has fewer branches, spikelets, florets and floral organs (McSteen and Hake 2001). The ear shoot, if it forms, has very few kernels. The mutant plants also have defects in vegetative development as they make fewer tillers (in a "tb1" mutant background) and make one or two fewer leaves than normal. The "bif2" gene encodes a serine threonine protein kinase (McSteen et al 2007) that phosphorylates auxin efflux carrier ZmPIN1a (Skirpan et al 2008) and BHLH transcription factor BARREN STALK1 (Skirpan et al 2008). Natural variation in "bif2" alleles are associated with tassel branch number and plant height (Pressoir et al 2009).
First report. Briggs and Johal 1992
Chromosome Location Based on B-A chromosomal translocation data and tight linkage to the RFLP marker "umc67a" (McSteen and Hake 2001) and the 2010 B73_v2 maize reference genome sequence assembly. Genetically mapped SNPs near the gene include rs131816257, rs131816315, and rs131816316.
Phenotypes Mutations in the gene produce plants where tassels, or male inflorescences have fewer branches, spikelets, florets and floral organs. The ear shoot or female inflorescence, if it forms, has very few kernels. Natural variations of the "bif2" gene have been found to affect tassel branch number and plant height (Pressoir et al 2009)
Gene Product Serine/threonine protein kinase that phosphorylates the PIN1a (Skirpan et al 2009) and BA2 proteins in vitro.