Rapid changes induced in developmental programmes of the maize embryo detected by analysis of the expression of genes encoding proline-rich proteins.

The pattern of expression of two genes coding for proline-rich proteins, zmHyPRP and zmHRGP, in Zea mays is modified when the embryogenesis programme is altered by placing the embryos in conditions which promote either precocious germination or callogenesis. zmHyPRP gene expression is rapidly arrested when the embryogenesis programme is altered. zmHRGP mRNA is highly induced in scutellum within a few hours of callogenesis or precocious germination.