ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 2210
Poster No. = 1064


EVOLUTION OF THE PETAL AND STAMEN DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS: EVIDENCE FROM COMPARATIVE MOLECULAR STUDIES OF THE BASAL ANGIOSPERMS


Elena M. Kramer and Vivian F. Irish, Yale University P.O. Box 208104, New Haven CT 06520-8104


We have undertaken a comparative survey of homologs of the floral homeotic genes in lower angiosperms in order to explore the actual degree of conservation in the floral developmental program. We are focusing on identifying homologs of the B group genes APETALA3 (AP3) and PISTILLATA (PI), which control petal and stamen organ identity in the higher dicots. Our phylogenetic analysis of homologs from over a dozen Ranunculid, Magnolid and Monocot species has revealed multiple duplication events and distinct patterns of sequence divergence within different lineages. Expression analysis of these genes in a number of species indicate that the function of AP3 and PI homologs as B class organ identity genes is not rigidly conserved among all angiosperms.


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