| Abstract Detail
Evolutionary Developmental Biology (Evo-Devo) Wang, Yunjing [1], Ballard, H. E. [1], McNally, Richard R. [1], Wyatt, Sarah [1]. Identification and characterization of the LEAFY, SEPALLATA1 and SEPALLATA3 orthologs in a cleistogamous species Viola pubescens. MANY plants, including most species in the genus Viola, can produce both chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers on the same plant. Chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers produce seeds by outcrossing and selfing respectively, and the mixed breeding system is considered a successful reproductive strategy. But the underlying molecular basis of the floral dimorphism has never been investigated. The LEAFY (LFY) gene of Arabidopsis and its orthologs in other plant species are responsible for the initiation of floral meristems and the regulation of the downstream flower development. The SEPALLATA1 (SEP1) and SEPALLATA (SEP3) genes of Arabidopsis function together with the ABC floral genes in the development of petals, stamens and carpels. The LFY, SEP1, SEP3 orthologs of a cleistogamous violet, Viola pubescens, was identified by PCR and named VLFY, VSEP1, VSEP3, respectively. RT-PCR analysis indicated that VLFY, VSEP1 and VSEP3 were expressed in the flowers of V. pubescens. In the case of VLFY, six transcripts were detected. The expression of VLFY was then compared in both chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers at different developmental stages. The six VLFY transcripts were detected in both types of flowers. Different VLFY transcripts exhibited different expression patterns. Overall, the younger floral buds expressed more VLFY than the older ones, and the chasmogamous flowers expressed more VLFY than the cleistogamous ones. The results showed that VLFY, VSEP1 and VSEP3 function in the flower development of V. pubescens. The different expression and/or combination of the six VLFY transcripts might contribute to the differentiation of the chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers.
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1 - Ohio University, Department of Environmental & Plant Biology, Porter Hall, Richland Avenue, Athens, Ohio, 45701-2979, USA
Keywords:
LEAFY
SEPALLATA1
SEPALLATA3
chasmogamous flowers
cleistogamous flowers
Viola pubescens.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: 48-30
Location: Auditorium/Bell Memorial Union
Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
Time: 12:30 PM
Abstract ID:169 |
