Biology Commons^™

Conservation Of B Class Gene Expression In The Second Whorl Of A Basal Grass And Outgroups Links The Origin Of Lodicules And Petals, Clinton Whipple, Michael Zanis, Elizabeth Kellogg, Robert Schmidt

Biology Department Faculty Works

Studies of flower development in core eudicot species have established a central role for B class MADS-box genes in specifying petal and stamen identities. Similarly in maize and rice, B class genes are essential for lodicule and stamen specification, suggesting homology of petals and lodicules and conservation of B class gene activity across angiosperms. However, lodicules are grass-specific organs with a morphology distinct from petals, thus their true homology to eudicot and nongrass monocot floral organs has been a topic of debate. To understand the relationship of lodicules to the sterile floral organs of nongrass monocots we have isolated and …