Suppression of B function strongly supports the modified ABCE model in Tricyrtis sp. (Liliaceae)

Sci Rep. 2016 Apr 15:6:24549. doi: 10.1038/srep24549.

Abstract

B class MADS-box genes play important roles in petal and stamen development. Some monocotyledonous species, including liliaceous ones, produce flowers with petaloid tepals in whorls 1 and 2. A modified ABCE model has been proposed to explain the molecular mechanism of development of two-layered petaloid tepals. However, direct evidence for this modified ABCE model has not been reported to date. To clarify the molecular mechanism determining the organ identity of two-layered petaloid tepals, we used chimeric repressor gene-silencing technology (CRES-T) to examine the suppression of B function in the liliaceous ornamental Tricyrtis sp. Transgenic plants with suppressed B class genes produced sepaloid tepals in whorls 1 and 2 instead of the petaloid tepals as expected. In addition, the stamens of transgenic plants converted into pistil-like organs with ovule- and stigma-like structures. This report is the first to describe the successful suppression of B function in monocotyledonous species with two-layered petaloid tepals, and the results strongly support the modified ABCE model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Flowers
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant*
  • Liliaceae / genetics*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Models, Genetic*
  • Phylogeny
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction