Activation tagging platform for maize, and resultant tagged populations and plants

A maize activation tagging DNA construct comprising:

• a coding sequence for maize Spm transposase;
• a reporter encoding region comprising:
• a sequence encoding anthocyanin regulatory gene B-Peru operably linked to a first globulin 1 promoter;
• and
• a sequence encoding anthocyanin regulatory gene C1 operably linked to a second globulin 1 promoter;
• and
• a non-autonomous transposable T-DNA cassette inserted into the reporter encoding region such that it disrupts expression of the B-Peru gene, the C1 gene, or both the B-Peru and C1 genes, the transposable cassette comprising:
• the maize 5′ and 3′ Spm terminal inverted repeats (TIRs), having disposed therebetween:
• four copies of a Sugar Cane Bacilliform Virus (SCBV) transcriptional enhancer;
• and, optionally
• a sequence encoding a selectable marker operably linked to the transcriptional enhancer;
• wherein Spm-mediated excision of the transposable T-DNA cassette restores expression of the disrupted B-Peru and/or C1 genes.