The BABY BOOM (BBM) AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE (AIL) AP2/ERF domain transcription factor
is a major regulator of plant cell totipotency, as it induces asexual embryo formation when
ectopically expressed. Surprisingly, only limited information is available on the role of BBM
during zygotic embryogenesis. Here we reexamined BBM expression and function in the
model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) using reporter analysis and newly
developed CRISPR mutants. BBM was expressed in the embryo from the zygote stage and …

APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) proteins comprise a large family of
plant transcription factors with diverse functions in plant stress response and development
(Feng et al., 2020). The AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE (AIL) clade of AP2 proteins comprises two
subclades, one subclade with AINTEGUMENTA (ANT)/AIL1-like proteins and one subclade
with BABY BOOM-like proteins, including the PLETHORA (PLT) proteins (Kerstens et al.,
2020). AIL proteins have individual and redundant functions during development, including …