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Abstract Detail


Developmental and Structural Section

Feng, Chunmiao [1], Franks, Robert G. [2], Xiang, Qiu-Yun (Jenny) [3].

Evolutionary developmental study of inflorescence in Cornus.

Inflorescence architectures are important to the successful reproduction of flowering plants. Alteration of inflorescence forms has significant evolutionary consequences, but our understanding of the developmental and genetic bases of inflorescence evolution is highly limited. The dogwood genus Cornus consists of four major lineages that are dramatically different in florescence forms, providing a good system to study inflorescence evolution. To understand the developmental basis of inflorescence architecture evolution in the genus, we characterized and compared the inflorescence developmental pathways in five species representing four inflorescence types using histological and SEM analyses. We identified nine major developmental events important to the divergence of inflorescence in Cornus. By mapping these characters onto the phylogeny, we inferred that reduction in inflorescence meristem size, changing of dome-shaped inflorescence meristem to disk-like inflorescence meristem and the lost of the ability of central meristem elongation appear to be associated with the transition from the large compound inflorescence to condensed forms. A change in the pattern of primary meristem initiation from decussate to peripheral is associated with the evolution of the umbellate form. Further reduction in the number of primary inflorescence branch meristems and lost of initiation and elongation of pedicels are associated with the evolution of a capitate form. In C.canadensis, the number of primary inflorescence branch meristems is further reduced.

Broader Impacts:


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1 - North Carolina State University, Department of Plant Biology, Campus Box 7612, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7612, USA
2 - North Carolina State University, Department of Genetics
3 - North Carolina State University, Department of Plant Biology, Campus Box 7612, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

Keywords:
inflorescence development
Evolution
Cornus.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 39
Location: 551A/Convention Center
Date: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
Time: 1:45 PM
Number: 39002
Abstract ID:465


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