A fern WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX gene functions in both gametophyte and sporophyte generations.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Post-embryonic growth of land plants originates from meristems. Genetic networks in meristems maintain the stem cells and direct acquisition of cell fates. WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX (WOX) transcription factors involved in meristem networks have only been functionally characterized in two evolutionarily distant taxa, mosses and seed plants. This report characterizes a WOX gene in a fern, which is located phylogenetically between the two taxa.

Results

CrWOXB transcripts were detected in proliferating tissues, including gametophyte and sporophyte meristems of Ceratopteris richardii. In addition, CrWOXB is expressed in archegonia but not the antheridia of gametophytes. Suppression of CrWOXB expression in wild-type RN3 plants by RNAi produced abnormal morphologies of ga

SUBMITTER: Youngstrom CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6788082 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature