• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.40.1-40.8
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• 2022

The concepts of phylogeny and floral genetics play a crucial role in understanding the origin and diversification of flowers in angiosperms. Angiosperms evolved a great diversity of ways to display their flowers for reproductive success with variations in floral color, size, shape, scent, arrangements, and flowering time. The various innovations in floral forms and the aggregation of flowers into different kinds of inflorescences have driven new ecological adaptations, speciation, and angiosperm diversification. Evolutionary developmental biology seeks to uncover the developmental and genetic basis underlying morphological diversification. Advances in the developmental genetics of floral display have provided a foundation for insights into the genetic basis of floral and inflorescence evolution. A number of regulatory genes controlling floral and inflorescence development have been identified in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Antirrhinum majus using forward genetics, and conserved functions of many of these genes across diverse non-model species have been revealed by reverse genetics. Transcription factors are vital elements in systems that play crucial roles in linked gene expression in the evolution and development of flowers. Therefore, we review the sex-linked genes, mostly transcription factors, associated with the complex and dynamic event of floral development and briefly discuss the sex-linked genes that have been characterized through next-generation sequencing.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.845-852
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• 2007

The highly evolved flowers of orchids have colorful sepals and fused columns that offer an opportunity to discover new genes involved in floral development in monocotyledon species. In this investigation, we cloned and characterized the homologous PISTALLATA-like (PI-like) gene PhPI15 ($\underline{Ph}alaenopsis$ $\underline{PI}$ STILLATA # $\underline{15}$), from the Phalaenopsis hybrid cultivar. The protein sequence encoded by PhPI15 contains a typical PI-motif. Its sequence also formed a subclade with other monocot PI-type genes in phylogenetic analysis. Southern analysis showed that PhPI15 was present in the Phalaenopsis orchid genome as a single copy. Furthermore, it was expressed in all the whorls of the Phalaenopsis flower, while no expression was detected in vegetative organs. The flowers of transgenic tobacco plants ectopically expressing PhPI15 showed male-sterile phenotypes. Thus, as a Class-B MADS-box gene, PhPI15 specifies floral organ identity in orchids.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1162-1169
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• 2014

Glyphosate is the active component of the top-selling herbicide, the phytotoxicity of which is due to its inhibition of the shikimic acid pathway. 5-Enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) is a key enzyme in the shikimic acid pathway. Glyphosate tolerance in plants can be achieved by the expression of a glyphosate-insensitive aroA gene (EPSPS). In this study, we used a PCR-based two-step DNA synthesis method to synthesize a new aroA gene ($aroA_{R.\;leguminosarum}$) from Rhizobium leguminosarum. In vitro glyphosate sensitivity assays showed that $aroA_{R.\;leguminosarum}$ is glyphosate tolerant. The new gene was then expressed in E. coli and key kinetic values of the purified enzyme were determined. Furthermore, we transformed the aroA gene into Arabidopsis thaliana by the floral dip method. Transgenic Arabidopsis with the $aroA_{R.\;leguminosarum}$ gene was obtained to prove its potential use in developing glyphosate-resistant crops.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.427-431
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• 2006

In vitro high-frequency plant regeneration of Muscari comosum var. plumosum through somatic embryogenesis was obtained via two developmental pathways: direct embryos and multiple shoots regenerated from embryogenic callus. Flower bud with pedicel, receptacle, petal and ovary wall, floral stalk and leaf as explants were cultured in MS medium supplemented with various plant growth regulators. Embryos formed directly from pedicel, receptacle and floral stalk. Depending on explant sources, the optimal medium was MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L IBA and 0.3 mg/L BA, 3.0 mg/L IBA and 3.0 mg/L BA, and MS-free medium for pedicel, receptacle, and floral stalk, respectively. Multiple shoots regenerated from embryogenic cal]i which was initiated from petal, ovary and leaf were observed in MS medium with different concentrations and combinations of hormone. The most suitable medium for each type of explant was 3.0 mg/L IBA and 3.0 mg/L BA(petal and ovary) and 5.0 mg/L IBA and 5.0 mg/L BA (leaf) Furthermore, the combination of 0.1 mg/L 2,4-D and 1.0 mg/L BA was also good for all sources of explants not only for direct embryo formation, but also, for embryogenic callus induction.

• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1259-1267
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• 2018

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is an important subtropical fruit crop with high commercial value due to its high nutritional values and favorable tastes. However, irregular bearing attributed to unstable flowering is a major ongoing problem for litchi producers. Previous studies indicate that low-temperature is a key factor in litchi floral induction. In order to reveal the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the reproductive process in litchi, we had analyzed the transcriptome of buds before and after low-temperature induction using RNA-seq technology. A key flower bud differentiation associated gene, a homologue of FLORICAULA/LEAFY, was identified and named LcLFY (GenBank Accession No. KF008435). The cDNA sequence of LcLFY encodes a putative protein of 388 amino acids. To gain insight into the role of LcLFY, the temporal expression level of this gene was measured by real-time RT-PCR. LcLFY was highly expressed in flower buds and its expression correlated with the floral developmental stage. Heterologous expression of LcLFY in transgenic tobacco plants induced precocious flowering. Meantime, we investigated the sub-cellular localization of LcLFY. The LcLFY-Green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein was found in the nucleus. The results suggest that LcLFY plays a pivotal role as a transcription factor in controlling the transition to flowering and in the development of floral organs in litchi.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 2006

"Determinate" and "indeterminate" inflorescences in plants are controlled by a single recessive gene, for example, SELF-PRUNING (SP) in Solanum lycopersicum, TERMINAL FLOWER1 in Arabidopsis, CENTRORADIALIS in Antirrhinum, and CENTRORADIALIS-like gene in tobacco. Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an indeterminate species in which shoots grow indefinitely. In this study, we cloned and characterized the pepper SP-like gene (CaSP). RT-PCR revealed that the CaSP transcript accumulates to higher levels in floral buds than in other organs. Comparison of genomic DNA and cDNA sequences from indeterminate and determinate pepper plants revealed the insertion of a single base in the first exon of CaSP in the determinate pepper plants. CaSP is annotated in linkage group 8 (chromosome 6) of the SNU2 pepper genetic map and showed similar synteny to SP in tomato. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing CaSP displayed late-flowering phenotypes similar to the phenotypes caused by overexpression of CaSP orthologs in other plants. Collectively, these results suggest that pepper CaSP is an ortholog of SP in tomato.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.359-366
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• 2000

Epigenetics represents a chromatin-mediated transcriptional repression which plays a control role in both animal and plant development. A number of different mechanisms have been described to be involved in the formation of chromatin structure: especially DNA methylation, nucleosomal histone modification, DNA replication timing, and binding of chromatin remodelling proteins. Epigenetic phenomena include genomic imprinting, dosage compensation of X-chromosome linked genes, mutual allelic interactions, paramutation, transvection, silencing of invasive DNA sequences, etc. They are often unstable and inherited in a non-Mendelian way. A number of epigenetic defects has been preferentially described in floral development. Here, epigenetic phenomena in model angiosperm plants and their corresponding mechanisms are reviewed.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.237-243
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• 1998

To understand the tissue specific expression pattern of S RNase genes associated with self-incompatibility in L. peruvianum, two promoter regions of $S_{11}$ and $S_{12}$ RNase genes were compared. Homologous sequences between two S RNase gene promoters were found within 300 bp upstream of transcription start site. Moreover short direct repeat sequences within $S_{11}$ RNase gene promoter existed in the vicinity of 350-500 bp upstream of transcription start site. To identify whether the unique promoter sequences of $S_{11}$ RNase gene confer the tissue specific expression, six deletion fragments for $S_{11}$ genomic gene promoter constructed by PCR were fused to $\beta$-glucuronidase gene, and introduced into various tissues of L. peruvianum by microprojectile bombardment. Transient expression assays indicated that $S_{11}$ RNase gene promoter contained the positive and negative regulatory sequences, which can control the floral tissue-specific expression in L. peruvianum.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.239-243
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• 1997

In August 1996, phyllody disease of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) caused by phytoplasmas was observed at Boeun, Chungbuk Province, Korea. Symptoms included extreme proliferation of growing tips and numerous small leaves, giving the infected plant a witche's-broom effect. Parts or all of the floral parts were transformed into green leaf-like structures, and little or no seeds were produced. Transmission Electron microscopy revealed the presence of phytoplasmas in the phloem sieve elements of infected plant. Since the infected sesame plants were growing near by phytoplasma infected jujubes (Zizyphus jujubu), we tried a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to identify these two causal phytoplasmas. The DNA extracted from the stems of infected sesame plant was PCR-amplified using a primer set specific to 16S rRNA gene of known phytoplasmas. The amplification generated a 1.4kb band in both sesame samples and phytoplasma-infected jujubes, which also suggests the sesame plants were infected with phytoplasmas. The restriction digestion of the amplified band by four different enzymes, AluI, HaeIII, HinfI or TaqI revealed that the phytoplasmas infecting jujubes and sesame plants were of different groups.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 1960

HARN, Chang Yawl (Chonnam U. Kwangju, Korea): Siudies on the dimorpism of the Perisicaria senticosa Nakai-Kor. jour. Bot. 3(1) 16-25 During his researches regarding the morphological and physiological properties of Polygonecenae, the author has found that the species, Persicaria senticosa, aiso, besides the heterostylous plants of Polygonum family, Fagopyrum esculentum, and Persicaria japonica which was recently verified by the author as dimorphic, shows the typical floral structure of heterostylism, the description of which is not found in taxonomical works. Further research on this species have revealed that this plant, despite pressessing characteristic structural dimorphism, does not exhibit even the slight signs of heterostlylous properties physiologically. This is a deviation from the usual behavior of normal heterostylous plants. What is interesting is the fact that the physiological behavior of this species is quite contrary to that of P. japonica which is considered to be the most highly specialized dimorphic plant. Thus it is assurred that if some species of this family had taken a heterostylic form in its course of development from autogamy to allogamy, P. seoticosa would be the least differentiated type of dimorphic forms among the three heterostylous plants, including buckwheat, of this family. The results obtained in this experiment are summarized as follows: 1) P. senticosa has two forms of flower, one, long style-short stamened; the other, short style-long stamened. Not only conspicuous is this primary difference, but the secondary difference, such as pollen grain size, is noticeable between long and short styled individuals, thus expressing structurally the definite trait of a dimorphic plant. 2) Structural alteration of floral parts towards dimorphism has preceeded far less in comparison with those of the P. japonica and F. esculentum. 3) Elaborate studies on fertility reveal that this species does not show the slightest sign of the physiological characteristics of dimorphic plants. In other words, regardless of the modes of combinations, legitimate and illegitimate, fertilization and fruit setting flourish unimpaired. 4) Growth of pollen tubes apparently parallels the results in the fertility, tubes reaching ovary approximately 30 minutes after pollination both in legitimate and illegitimate combinations. Pollen tube penetration appears to be comparatively rapid. 5) A slight difference in the growth of pollen tube seems to exist between legitimate and illegitimate combinations, legitimate union giving slightly faster tube penetration. 6) In the present experiment it was clarified that P. senticosa, known to possess one form of flower in taxonomy, is in reality dimorphic plant having two of flowers. Although this species is definitely heterostylous in floral structure, physiological evidence and pollen tube behavior show that the differentiation of this plant toward the dimorphism has apparently proceeded slightly except for some parts of floral organ. In ordinary heterostylous plants it is a matter of common occurrence that when illegitimately cmbined, there is poor or no fertility, Contrary to the universal property of heterostylous plants, no difference is observed in the fertility and pollen tube growth between the legitimate and illegitimate combinations in the case of P. senticosa. Compared to the P. japonica and F. esculentum, which are supposed to have undergone high degree of dimorphic differentiation, it is an unavoidable conclusion that P. senticosa has not yet developed as a heterostyle plant except for some of its floral parts. If P. japonica is assumed to be the most differentiated type of hetenostylous plant, thenthe P. senticosa would be regarded as the primitive, retaining still the self-fertile nature so common to the Polygonum genus. In nature, however, this plant has a better chance to be pollinated legitimately owing to the two forms of flowers than to be pollinated illegitimately. The author is indebted to Dong Chul, Kim as well as other members of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics of Chonnam National University for their efforts out the laborious experiments during the course of the present studies.