| Abstract Detail
Developmental and Structural Section Zhang, Chi [1], Plant , Alastair Robert [2], Bartholmes, Conny [2], Hidalgo, Oriane [3], Gleissberg, Stefan [2]. Silencing of a Cysticapnos vesicaria FLORICAULA-like gene. FLORICAULA/LEAFY-like (FLO) genes are transcription factors implicated in a variety of developmental processes. Depending on the lineage, FLO genes have been shown to control phase transition, meristem identity, phyllotaxis, inflorescence architecture, and leaf dissection. Scarcity of functional data make it currently difficult to identify ancestral and lineage specific derived roles of FLO genes in angiosperms. Here we report the phenotypic effects of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of a FLO gene in Cysticapnos vesicaria, a member of the Papaveraceae, within the basal eudicots. Cysticapnos belongs to the derived Fumarieae clade within subfamily Fumarioideae, characterized by monosymmetric flowers and indeterminate inflorescences. Following inoculation of seedling hypocotyls with a Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) construct containing the Cysticapnos FLORICAULA (CvFLO) gene (pTRV2-CvFLO), we scored vegetative and reproductive traits in comparison to plants infected with the empty virus (pTRV2-E). We found that pTRV2-CvFLO flowers had defects in organ numbers and floral organ identities. Organ numbers were increased or decreased, and all five organ categories (sepals, outer petals, inner petals, stamens, and carpels) were affected by ectopic tissue identities. In addition, the breakdown of phyllotaxis caused the loss of floral monosymmetry. Our analyses suggest that CvFLO limits organ number and arrangement, particularly in the perianth, and is therefore necessary to establish monosymmetry. CvFLO may also control whorl-specific organ identities, possibly through regulation of MADS-box genes. Furthermore, we found that the level of leaf complexity was reduced in CvFLO-VIGS plants, suggesting that a role of FLO genes in leaf dissection, thought to be restricted to certain Fabaceae, occurs outside of core eudicots. Broader Impacts:
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1 - Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
2 - Ohio University, Environmental and Plant Biology, Porter Hall, Richland Avenue, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
3 - Universitat de Barcelona, Laboratori de Botānica, Facultat de Farmācia, Barcelona, Spain
Keywords:
Cysticapnos
Papaveraceae
FLORICAULA
floral development
leaf development.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 17
Location: Union D/Hyatt
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2012
Time: 2:15 PM
Number: 17004
Abstract ID:584 |
