HighlightA rare SNP mutation in Brachytic2 underlies a major QTL affecting plant height, and moderately reduces plant height and increases yield potential in maize.

Asymmetric auxin distribution caused by polar auxin transport (PAT) regulates many plant developmental and physiological processes. Plant two closely ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporter, AtPGP1 and AtPGP19 (AtMDR1), have been implicated in auxin transport. However, unlike atpgp19 mutant and atpgp1 atmdr1 double mutant show decreased apical dominance, reduced growth, and impaired basipetal auxin transport, atpgp1 mutant exhibit no significant difference from wild type. We report a new allele of atpgp1 mutants, designated as atpgp1-2, which showed shorter hypocotyl and dwarf phenotype under long-day condition. Auxin transport activity was greatly impaired and NPA-sensitivity was decreased in the mutant. Moreover, we detected transcript in the atpgp1 mutants reported previously, but not in atpgp1-2. These results suggest a direct involvement of AtPGP1 in auxin transport processes controlling plant growth.

Although teamwork shows stronger innovation ability than individuals and this advantage has been increasing over time, the negative effects of larger teams also appear as the number of inventor members increases. This study discusses the double-edged sword role of inventor teams in innovation quality at two extremes: the high quality and the low quality. We argue that, inventor team size influences innovation quality because diversity works in the evolutionary process of innovation, but different types of diversity play distinct moderating roles in these relationships. Using patent data from the US pharmaceutical industry, empirical results show that there is an inverted U-shape relationship between inventor team size and high-quality innovation, and a negative relationship between inventor team size and low-quality innovation. These relationships are moderated at different degree by technological and geographic diversity. Our findings contribute to existing literature of innovation and also provide meaningful implications for innovation management.

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