The flattened and needlelike leaves of the pine family (Pinaceae) share a conserved genetic network for adaxial-abaxial polarity but have diverged for photosynthetic adaptation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Leaves have highly diverse morphologies. However, with an evolutionary history of approximately 200 million years, leaves of the pine family are relatively monotonous and often collectively called "needles", although they vary in length, width and cross-section shapes. It would be of great interest to determine whether Pinaceae leaves share similar morpho-physiological features and even consistent developmental and adaptive mechanisms.

Results

Based on a detailed morpho-anatomical study of leaves from all 11 Pinaceae genera, we particularly investigated the expression patterns of adaxial-abaxial polarity genes in two types of leaves (needlelike and flattened) and compared their photosynthetic capacities. We found that the two types of leaves share conserved spatia

SUBMITTER: Du H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7542717 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature