Physiology of Flowering Plant Molecular Level
Physiology of Flowering Plant Molecular Level
Physiology of Flowering Plant Molecular Level
Flowering
At shoot apex Induction to Initiation to Specification Vegetative to Reproductive Indeterminate to Determinate Shoot apical meristem to Inflorescence meristem to Floral meristem (primordia)
Flowering Signal
Hormone Temperature Photoperiod Autonomous environment/endogenous
Flowering genes
Timing
Meristem identity Organ identity
Approaches
Flowering mutant
Gene identification
Transformation Mutant complementation
Why flowering?
Evolutionary diversification of organisms Alteration of developmental events Variation in structure and regulation of genes controlling developmental mechanism
Why flowering?
Flowering genes
Study model: Arabidopsis and Snapdragon
Common characteristics:
Flowering genes
2 classes: meristem identity genes eg, LFY CAL AP1 organ identity genes eg, AP2 AP3 PI AG Most genes encode proteins with homologous regions of ~ 260 amino acid sequence similarity : common ancestor
Flowering genes
Highly conserved region about 57 amino acid called MADS box also found in yeast and human Regulatory gene family: transcription factor MADS box gene in other crops: tomato tobacco potato petunia
FLIP genes
TFL LFY AP1 AP2
TFL: timing of phase transition Tfl mutant: correct sequence of development early bolting early flowering reduced number of inflorescence internode
LFY/AP1/AP2:
Mutant:
required in combination rapid and complete transition gradual transition from inflo. to flower flower-like lateral shoot leaf in first whorl reproductive organs in outer whorls etc.
ABC model
3 classes of genes: A, B and C working individual and in pair A and C inhibit/antagonize each other (no simultaneous functions)
B A 1 2 3 C 4
A A+B B+C C
ABC model: Developed from floral homeotic mutants of Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum (flowers with abnormal organ pattern) Genes identified: MADS-box family (transcription factor with conserved domain) Also work well in petunia, tomato and maize
A mutant
abnormal in whorl = abnormal in organ =
B mutant
abnormal in whorl = abnormal in organ =
C mutant
abnormal in whorl = abnormal in organ =
Some floral homeotic genes (MADS box) not follow ABC model: new E-class control 3 inner whorls and determinacy
ABC model necessary but not sufficient
**D-class for ovule identity**
Arabidopsis triple mutant (sep1 sep2 sep3) 4 sepals 4 sepals 6 sepals new mutant flower petunia FBP2: functional equivalent to SEP protein (complementation of sep mutant) E-class essential for function of B and C class
Blooming gene
When to flower winter spring summer too early: no pollinating insect too late: not enough time to make seed (winter) one gene: CONSTANS in Arabidopsis control flowering time CONSTANS protein helps measure day length
Quality of light perceived by 2 light receptors cryptochrome 2 responds to blue light phytochrome A responds to red light
CONSTANS protein: amount above threshold Light receptors: activated Sunlight: late afternoon time for flowering **hundreds of genes involved to build flower**
Flower Color
Flower Color
Anthocyanin synthesis pathway
new color
Flower Color
Factors on flower perception
co-pigmentation
vacuolar pH cell shape
Flower Color
Co-pigmentation
anthocyanin and flavonols / flavones
Flower Color
Vacuolar pH pH increase blueing seven loci (ph1-ph7) control pH in petunia mutation of the ph loci effect on pH in petal extract but not on anthocyanin composition regulatory genes?
Flower Color
Cell shape
Flower Color
Cell-shape controlling gene: mixta
anthocyanin-synthesis genes
Color pattern
mutant with altered pigment synthesis
Color pattern
Target genes to be regulated specific cis (responsive) elements essential for protein-DNA interaction
Transformation
(cocultivation with Agrobacterium) Rose Chrysanthemum Carnation Tulip Lily Freesia Snapdragon Anthurium Embryogenic callus Leaf Peduncle Petal Stem
Molecular breeding
Gene transformation then Selection Flower color Maize dfr to petunia: brick-red petunia Petunia mum gerbera rose chs Cosuppression/Antisense technique Various pattern and color white pale pink cream etc.
Regulatory gene for anthocyanin pathway Maize Lc to petunia: red plant Snapdragon del to gerbera: red leaf and flower scape not in flower
Vase life: Scent: ethylene s-linalool synthase (monoterpene)