Patterns of MADS-box gene expression mark flower-type development in Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae).

ABSTRACT:

Background

The inflorescence of the cut-flower crop Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae) consists of two principal flower types, ray and disc, which form a tightly packed head, or capitulum. Despite great interest in plant morphological evolution and the tractability of the gerbera system, very little is known regarding genetic mechanisms involved in flower type specification. Here, we provide comparative staging of ray and disc flower development and microarray screening for differentially expressed genes, accomplished via microdissection of hundreds of coordinately developing flower primordia.

Results

Using a 9K gerbera cDNA microarray we identified a number of genes with putative specificity to individual flower types. Intrestingly, several of these encode homologs of MADS-box tr

SUBMITTER: Laitinen RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1525168 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature