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Possible contributions of TERMINAL FLOWER 1 to the evolution of rosette flowering in Leavenworthia (Brassicaceae)
Author(s) -
Liu Ning,
Sliwinski Marek K.,
Correa Raul,
Baum David A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03511.x
Subject(s) - biology , rosette (schizont appearance) , inflorescence , pedicel , meristem , petal , arabidopsis thaliana , sepal , botany , mutant , plant stem , crassa , petiole (insect anatomy) , brassicaceae , primordium , arabidopsis , gene , genetics , neurospora crassa , stamen , immunology , pollen , hymenoptera
Summary• Leavenworthia crassa is a rosette flowering species that differs from inflorescence flowering species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana , in having elongated pedicels and shortened interfloral internodes on the main axis. Based on previous experiments, we hypothesized that changes to the L. crassa TFL1 ortholog, LcrTFL1 , were important in the evolution of rosette flowering. • We isolated LcrTFL1 and introduced a genomic construct into tfl1 mutant A. thaliana plants. We also generated and analyzed EGFP‐LcrTFL1 reporter‐fusion lines, and LcrTFL1 / LcrLFY doubly transgenic lines. • The transgene rescued the mutant defects, but manifested gain‐of‐function phenotypes. However, LcrTFL1 lines differed from 35S:TFL1 lines in several regards. Defects in floral meristem identity establishment were observed, as was the production of flowers with extra petals. We also noted features that resemble rosette flowering: LcrTFL1 lines produced significantly shorter interfloral internodes and significantly longer pedicels than either wild‐type or 35S:TFL1 plants. • Our data show that there are substantive differences in the regulation and/or function of TFL1 orthologs between A. thaliana and L. crassa . These may reflect changes that occurred during the evolution of rosette flowering in Leavenworthia , but, if so, our results show that additional, as‐yet‐unidentified genes were involved in this instance of architectural evolution.