Parallel evolution of storage roots in morning glories (Convolvulaceae).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Storage roots are an ecologically and agriculturally important plant trait that have evolved numerous times in angiosperms. Storage roots primarily function to store carbohydrates underground as reserves for perennial species. In morning glories, storage roots are well characterized in the crop species sweetpotato, where starch accumulates in storage roots. This starch-storage tissue proliferates, and roots thicken to accommodate the additional tissue. In morning glories, storage roots have evolved numerous times. The primary goal of this study is to understand whether this was through parallel evolution, where species use a common genetic mechanism to achieve storage root formation, or through convergent evolution, where storage roots in distantly related species are fo

SUBMITTER: Eserman LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5975488 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature