Create your own conference schedule! Click here for full instructions

Abstract Detail


From canonical to new model systems: The future of plant development

Hall, Jocelyn [1], Avino, Mariano [2], Mankowski, Peter [3], Sullivan, Sierra [3], Bernard, Kelsey [3].

Examining the genetic basis of fruit diversity in the tribe Brassiceae (Brassicaceae).

Remarkable natural variation exists in fruit structures that influence dispersal capabilities of flowering plants. For example, about half the members of tribe Brassiceae (Brassicaceae) exhibit fruits with segmentation and variable dehiscence, called heteroarthrocarpy. The knowledge of genetics of fruit patterning in Arabidopsis offers an excellent opportunity to investigate how this pathway may be conserved and/or modified to produce fruits with drastically different dispersal strategies. Expression studies of six genes (SHATTERPROOF1, SHATTERPROOF2, ALCATRAZ, REPLUMLESS, FRUITFULL, and INDEHISCENT) show conservation of expression patterns between Arabidopsis siliques and dehiscent segments of Erucaria erucarioides,with notable differences in expression patterns of genes that position the valve margin. In contrast, indehiscent segments of Erucaria and Cakile lanceolata are characterized by the lack of expression of the same genes. These findings suggest that modifications in the fruit patterning genes are responsible for differences between heteroarthrocarpic and Arabidopsis-likefruits and support the hypothesis that heteroarthrocarpy evolved via repositioning the valve margin. These results also highlight conservation in gene expression patterns involved in dehiscence across Brassicaceae. In addition, we are pursuing virus-induced gene silencing as a method to test if FRUITFULL (FUL) is involved in morphological differences between Erucaria and Arabidopsis. These experiments are complemented by the generation of a FUL phylogeny across the tribe.

Broader Impacts:


Log in to add this item to your schedule

1 - University of Alberta, Biological Sciences, Edmonton, AB, T6E 2E9, Canada
2 - University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
3 - University of Alberta, Biological Sciences, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: SY10
Location: Delaware A/Hyatt
Date: Wednesday, July 11th, 2012
Time: 4:15 PM
Number: SY10007
Abstract ID:357


Copyright © 2000-2012, Botanical Society of America. All rights reserved