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Gene Duplication and Differential Expression of Flower Symmetry Genes in Rhododendron (Ericaceae)

TitleGene Duplication and Differential Expression of Flower Symmetry Genes in Rhododendron (Ericaceae)
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsRamage E, Soza VL, Yi J, Deal H, Chudgar V, Hall BD, Di Stilio VS
JournalPlants
Volume10
Pagination1994
Abstract

Bilaterally symmetric flowers have evolved over a hundred times in angiosperms, yet orthologs of the transcription factors CYCLOIDEA (CYC), RADIALIS (RAD), and DIVARICATA (DIV) are repeatedly implicated in floral symmetry changes. We examined these candidate genes to elucidate the genetic underpinnings of floral symmetry changes in florally diverse Rhododendron, reconstructing gene trees and comparing gene expression across floral organs in representative species with radial and bilateral flower symmetries. Radially symmetric R. taxifolium Merr. and bilaterally symmetric R. beyerinckianum Koord. had four and five CYC orthologs, respectively, from shared tandem duplications. CYC orthologs were expressed in the longer dorsal petals and stamens and highly expressed in R. beyerinckianum pistils, whereas they were either ubiquitously expressed, lost from the genome, or weakly expressed in R. taxifolium. Both species had two RAD and DIV orthologs uniformly expressed across all floral organs. Differences in gene structure and expression of Rhododendron RAD compared to other asterids suggest that these genes may not be regulated by CYC orthologs. Our evidence supports CYC orthologs as the primary regulators of differential organ growth in Rhododendron flowers, while also suggesting certain deviations from the typical asterid gene regulatory network for flower symmetry.

URLhttp://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/10/1994
DOI10.3390/plants10101994
Fields of interest: