CYC类基因在被子植物花发育中的研究进展

CYCLOIDEA(CYC)类基因属于TCP基因家族成员,在花发育过程中具有重要作用。CYC类基因在被子植物进化过程中发生基因复制事件,形成CYC1、CYC2和CYC3三大分支,其中CYC2分支成员在花对称性形成方面具有主要调控作用。CYC1和CYC3分支成员开展研究较少。综述了国内外CYC类基因的研究现状及其存在问题,并对CYC类基因的研究前景做了展望。     

植物花发育的分子机理研究进展

花的发育分为开花决定、花的发端和花器官的发育三个阶段。植物开花由多条途径诱导,包括光周期和光质诱导、春化作用、自主途径、赤霉素诱导、碳水化合物诱导等;植物体本身也存在着开花抑制途径。各种开花诱导途径能激活花分生组织特性基因,使茎端分生组织转变为花分生组织。花器官的发育由器官特性基因决定,这些基因的精确表达需要花分生组织特性基因的激活和多个正、负调节因子的调控;另有一类基因控制着花发育的对称性。花发育机理的研究具有重要的理论意义和广泛的应用前景。     

被子植物花对称性的遗传控制

简要评述了被子植物花对称性遗传控制研究的最新进展。金鱼草中控制花背腹轴不对称性基因Cy cloidea(Cyc)和Dichotama(Dich)的克隆 ,为研究单对称花的遗传控制机理和进化历程提供了可能。在唇形目(Lamialess .l.)中的研究表明 ,在与金鱼草 (Antirrhinummajus)近缘的物种中 ,Cyc基因的同源基因可以采用相似的机制控制背腹轴上花器官的不对称性发育。最新的研究结果显示 ,在同金鱼草远缘的豆科植物 (Legu minosae)中 ,不仅存在Cyc基因的同源基因 ,而且它们也参与花背腹轴上不对称性的形成。参与花对称性控制的基因属于植物中一个新发现的基因家族———TCP结构域基因     

植物花发育的分子机理研究进展

花的发育分为开花决定、花的发端和花器官的发育三个阶段。植物开花由多条途径诱导,包括光周期和光质诱导、春化作用、自主途径、赤霉素诱导、碳水化合物诱导等;植物体本身也存在着开花抑制途径。各种开花诱导途径能激活花分生组织特性基因,使茎端分生组织转变为花分生组织。花器官的发育由器官特性基因决定,这些基因的精确表达需要花分生组织特性基因的激活和多个正、负调节因子的调控;另有一类基因控制着花发育的对称性。花发育机理的研究具有重要的理论意义和广泛的应用前景。     

植物MADS盒基因与花器官的进化发育

已在维管植物中发现百余种MADS盒基因,此种基因家族由表达模式和功能关系密切的基因构成多种特定的亚族和DEF／GLO类（B功能）,AG类（C和D功能）等,植物花器官发生和花形态多样性的遗传机理和进化规律都可能与MADS盒基因的结构,表达以及功能进行相关。     

花、基因、禾本科

进化发育生物学的一个重要任务就是揭示形态多样性的分子基础,该领域的研究包含形态、形态发育相关基因和形态所属类群等三个要素。花/花序是进化发育生物学研究的首要对象,系统发育重建和个体发育剖析的结合将促进认知花的形态进化。发育相关基因的进化表现为等位基因遗传或表观遗传的突变,基因家族生与死的进化,不同基因组拥有独特的基因。运用形态学或序列分析方法很大程度揭示了禾本科植物花进化过程中的基因进化。试从学科问题、思路方法以及具体例子介绍植物进化发育生物学。     

花、基因、禾本科

进化发育生物学的一个重要任务就是揭示形态多样性的分子基础, 该领域的研究包含形态、形态发育相关基因和形态所属类群等三个要素。花/花序是进化发育生物学研究的首要对象, 系统发育重建和个体发育剖析的结合将促进认知花的形态进化。发育相关基因的进化表现为等位基因遗传或表观遗传的突变, 基因家族生与死的进化, 不同基因组拥有独特的基因。运用形态学或序列分析方法很大程度揭示了禾本科植物花进化过程中的基因进化。试从学科问题、思路方法以及具体例子介绍植物进化发育生物学。     

花对称性与植物花大小的变异性:在高寒草甸植物群落检验Berg的假说

植物花对称性与传粉系统密切相关,花特征的变异性受到传粉者的选择作用。由于特化的传粉者对两侧对称的花的稳定选择,Berg假说认为两侧对称植物花大小的变异性比辐射对称植物的更低;而且,在传粉者的选择作用下花特征比植物营养特征明显有更低的变异性,因为后者更易受环境影响。该文对青藏高原东部高山草甸植物群落的50种开花植物(包括19种两侧对称植物和31种辐射对称植物)的花和叶特征进行了测定和分析。结果表明不论是两侧对称植物还是辐射对称植物,花大小的变异性都显著低于叶片大小的变异性,表明传粉者对花施加的稳定选择有利于花的稳定性。但是,辐射对称物种花大小的变异程度和两侧对称物种的相似,即使在控制物种系统发育的影响后,也没有发现显著的差异,这与Berg假说不一致。高山生态系统中传粉者种类相对较少,以熊蜂和蝇类为主,传粉者的活动受局域气候环境影响较大,因此传粉昆虫对植物花的选择作用强度可能有较大的变异性。     

进化发育生物学--发育、进化和遗传的再联合

发育生物学和进化生物学,以及遗传学历史上曾一度是彼此不分的统一体,后来由于各自研究重点的不同和相应研究手段的独立发展彼此分道扬镳了。如今,由于分子遗传学研究手段的革新使得基因序列测定成为分析发育机理、区分物种和评估种间亲缘关系的常规手段,三者又在基因水平上再度统一起来了,并形成一门被称为进化发育生物学（ｅｖｏｌｕｔｉｏｎａｒｙ ｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｍｅｎｔａｌ ｂｉｏｌｏｇｙ）的新学科。     

The genetic basis of a mutation that alters the floral symmetry in sunflower

The indeterminate inflorescence of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is heterogamous with zygomorphic ray flowers in the outer whorl of the head and actinomorphic disc flowers arrayed in arcs radiating from the centre of the head. The Chrysanthemoides (Chry) mutant is characterised by a change of the radially symmetric corolla of tubular disc flowers into a monosymmetric ligulate‐like corolla. Zygomorphy is pronounced in the disc flowers placed on the peripheral whorls of inflorescences, while the monosymmetry is less marked toward the centre of the inflorescence. Although the Chry phenotype was one of first known morphological mutants in plants, studies on the genetic control of this trait are scarce and contradictory. Our results indicate that the Chry mutation is semidominant and exclude a maternal influence. Moreover, the data gathered in F₂, BC₁ and F₃ progenies support a genetic model involving one major locus and an unknown number of modifiers. The improved knowledge on genetic control of the Chry mutation should enhance the introduction of this trait in crossbreeding programmes designed to produce new varieties of ornamental sunflower.     

Reversal versus specialization in floral morphological evolution in Petrocosmea (Gesneriaceae)

A widely held hypothesis in evolution is that adaptive specialization constrains the potential direction of future evolutionary change and thus may be irreversible, also known as Dollo's law. However, this hypothesis has long been subject to debate in evolutionary biology. Floral specialization is intriguing as it is usually linked to reproductive isolation and could affect speciation. Here, following the discovery of four new taxa, we observed some interesting phenomena of reversal versus specialization in morphology in a clade with the most specialized flowers in the genus Petrocosmea. In the phylogenetic tree based on sequences of multiple DNA regions, the morphological reversals, especially the regain of a long corolla tube, are nested within the branches characteristic of normally specialized flowers with a short corolla tube and highly specialized zygomorphy. Our results indicate that the highly specialized floral organ of this clade is still actively evolving in multiple branches toward specialization while reversals to different ancestral states occur in some branches. Great disturbance of ecological environment is likely a crucial factor affecting trait reversibility, such as the rapid uplift of the Himalayan–Tibetan plateau. The four new taxa are treated herein taxonomically. The flowers of this clade represent an interesting model to explore the genetic basis underlying the evolutionary reversal versus specialization and the interplay between genetic factors and environmental variables.     

A method for quantifying rotational symmetry

Here, a new approach for quantifying rotational symmetry based on vector analysis was described and compared with information obtained from a geometric morphometric analysis and a technique based on distance alone. A new method was developed that generates a polygon from the length and angle data of a structure and then quantifies the minimum change necessary to convert that polygon into a regular polygon. This technique yielded an asymmetry score (s) that can range from 0 (perfect symmetry) to 1 (complete asymmetry). Using digital images of Geranium robertianum flowers, this new method was compared with a technique based on lengths alone and with established geometric morphometric methods used to quantify shape variation. Asymmetry scores (s) more clearly described variation in symmetry and were more consistent with a visual assessment of the images than either comparative technique. This procedure is the first to quantify the asymmetry of radial structures accurately, uses easily obtainable measures to calculate the asymmetry score and allows comparisons among individuals and species, even when the comparisons involve structures with different patterns of symmetry. This technique enables the rigorous analysis of polysymmetric structures and provides a foundation for a better understanding of symmetry in nature.     

Patterns of floral construction in ontogeny and phylogeny

Among the flowering plants flowers are relatively closed systems of a considerable complexity and therefore more suitable for comparative developmental studies than other organs. They work with a few kinds of structural elements that occur in variable or fixed numbers and are arranged in patterns more or less constrained by developmental conditions. Diversity of floral structure occurs at different levels, with emphasis either on number and arrangement or on synorganization and form of the structural elements. The first level is shown here with examples of several representatives of the primitive subclasses Magnoliidae and Hamamelididae, the second with Asclepiadaceae representing the most advanced subclass of dicotyledons Asteridae. Although early ontogenetic patterns are fairly constant among larger groups, especially the sequence of initiation and position of the different classes of structural elements, there is no strict stability in any of the parameters studied.     

Fossil floral and fruit evidence for the evolution of unusual developmental characters in Fagales

Flowers of many living Fagales exhibit unusual developmental characteristics. At anthesis, ovulate flowers have carpels bearing immature orthotropous ovules. After pollination, the ovules increase in size and become anatropous and the ovary enlarges. Simultaneously, the pollen tubes extend from the stigma to the ovules with several phases of growth and quiescence. Finally, after the first fertilization, the remaining ovules abort, resulting in a single‐seeded fruit. Three‐dimensionally preserved potentially fagaceous mesofossil flowers from the Campanian of Massachusetts, USA, provide evidence on the evolution of these characters. The fossils share putative synapomorphies with the Fagales (six tepals, mostly inferior, three‐carpellate ovary with each locule initially containing two pendant ovules, punctate‐rugulate, tricolporate pollen and fruit with a single seed). However, the fossil is bisexual and has nectaries, characters shared with the sister order Cucurbitales, and both lack the fagalean immature orthotropous developmental stage. The fossil shares synapomorphies of an inferior ovary and a single‐seeded indehiscent fruit with both living orders and appears to be transitional. Comparison of ontogenetic changes between the fossil and related fagalean taxa suggests independent stepwise changes in development in which some characters of the modern clades were in place at ～ 75 Myr and others evolved more recently. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 168 , 353–376.     

Genetic aspects of floral fragrance in plants

It is generally assumed that compounds are emitted from flowers in order to attract and guide pollinators. Due to the invisibility and the highly variable nature of floral scent, no efficient and reliable methods to screen for genetic variation have been developed. Moreover, no convenient plant model systems are available for flower scent studies. In the past decade, several floral fragrance-related genes have been cloned; the biosynthesis and metabolic engineering of floral volatiles have been studied with the development of biotechnology. This review summarizes the reported floral fragrance-related genes and the biosynthesis of floral scent compounds, introduces the origin of new modification enzymes for flower scent, compares different methods for floral fragrance-related gene cloning, and discusses the metabolic engineering of floral scent. Finally, the perspectives and prospects of research on floral fragrance are presented. Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 4, pp. 437–446.     

The evolution of floral biology in basal angiosperms

In basal angiosperms (including ANITA grade, magnoliids, Choranthaceae, Ceratophyllaceae) almost all bisexual flowers are dichogamous (with male and female functions more or less separated in time), and nearly 100 per cent of those are protogynous (with female function before male function). Movements of floral parts and differential early abscission of stamens in the male phase are variously associated with protogyny. Evolution of synchronous dichogamy based on the day/night rhythm and anthesis lasting 2 days is common. In a few clades in Magnoliales and Laurales heterodichogamy has also evolved. Beetles, flies and thrips are the major pollinators, with various degrees of specialization up to large beetles and special flies in some large-flowered Nymphaeaceae, Magnoliaceae, Annonaceae and Aristolochiaceae. Unusual structural specializations are involved in floral biological adaptations (calyptras, inner staminodes, synandria and food bodies, and secretory structures on tepals, stamens and staminodes). Numerous specializations that are common in monocots and eudicots are absent in basal angiosperms. Several families are poorly known in their floral biology.