Fleshy or dry: transcriptome analyses reveal the genetic mechanisms underlying bract development in Ephedra.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gnetales have a key phylogenetic position in the evolution of seed plants. Among the Gnetales, there is an extraordinary morphological diversity of seeds, the genus Ephedra, in particular, exhibits fleshy, coriaceous or winged (dry) seeds. Despite this striking diversity, its underlying genetic mechanisms remain poorly understood due to the limited studies in gymnosperms. Expanding the genomic and developmental data from gymnosperms contributes to a better understanding of seed evolution and development.

Results

We performed transcriptome analyses on different plant tissues of two Ephedra species with different seed morphologies. Anatomical observations in early developing ovules, show that differences in the seed morphologies are established early in their develo

SUBMITTER: Zumajo-Cardona C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9047513 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature