Shedding light on flower development: phytochrome B regulates gynoecium formation in association with the transcription factor SPATULA

Julia Foreman, James White, Ian Graham, Karen Halliday, Eve-Marie Josse

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Accurate development of the gynoecium, the female reproductive organ, is necessary to achieve efficient fertilization. In Arabidopsis, the correct patterning of the apical-basal axis of the gynoecium requires the establishment of a morphogenic gradient of auxin. This allows the production of specialized tissues, whose roles consist of attracting pollen, allowing pollen tube growth and protecting the ovules within the ovaries. Mutations in the bHLH transcription factor SPATULA (SPT) are known to impair the development of the apical tissues of the gynoecium. Here, we show that the spt phenotype is rescued by the removal of phytochrome B, and discuss how light signaling may control flower development.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)471-476
Number of pages6
JournalPlant Signaling & Behavior
Volume6
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2011

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Arabidopsis
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Flowers
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Phytochrome B
  • Plants, Genetically Modified

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