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Abstract Detail


Evolutionary Developmental Biology (Evo-Devo)

Gleissberg, Stefan [1], Hidalgo, Oriane [1].

Conserved regulators of reproductive morphology: what is special in poppies?

Meristem identity and flower symmetry genes such as FLORICAULA/LEAFY, FRUITFULL/APETALA1, CENTRORADIALIS/TERMINAL FLOWER1, and CYCLOIDEA have demonstrated widely conserved roles in eudicots, where they confer the position of flowers in inflorescences, and/or initiate flower-specific developmental pathways. We are investigating these gene clades in poppy relatives, Papaveraceae s.l., an early-branching family in Ranunculales, the order which diverged first in the eudicot lineage. The family includes the poppies and fumitories, and exhibits unique transitions from determinate to indeterminate inflorescence architecture that are linked to shifts from flower polysymmetry to disymmetry to monosymmetry. We use a combination of gene clade analysis, expression studies, and virus-induced loss-of function observations to identify conserved aspects of gene function, that are shared with core eudicots, but also to characterize novel roles that can explain the evolution of clade-specific traits. One such trait is the formation of a receptacular cup that elevates the perianth and the androecium around the gynoecium in the mature flower. Silencing of EcFLO, the Eschscholzia californica FLORICAULA/LEAFY ortholog, reveals a novel function in the coordination of two floral meristem functions, floral organ initiation and floral cup formation. Another trait specific to Eschscholzia is its synsepalous calyx that forms a hood enclosing floral organs. Silencing of an EcFUL gene, a FRUITFULL-like MADS box gene in this species, reveals its necessity for correct calyx morphogenesis. We further demonstrate virus-induced gene silencing in a zygomorphic-flowered member of the fumitories, enabling a comparative assessment of morphological diversification within Papaveraceae s.l.

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1 - Ohio University, Environmental and Plant Biology, Porter Hall, Athens, Ohio, 45701, USA

Keywords:
Meristem identity genes 
Flower symmetry genes 
poppies
fumitories
receptacular cup
synsepalous calyx
FLORICAULA/LEAFY
FRUITFULL/APETALA1
CENTRORADIALIS/TERMINAL FLOWER1
CYCLOIDEA.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 5
Location: 554A/Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Time: 10:45 AM
Number: 5009
Abstract ID:665


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