Evidence that an evolutionary transition from dehiscent to indehiscent fruits in Lepidium (Brassicaceae) was caused by a change in the control of valve margin identity genes

• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12079
• Publication Date: 2012-11-22T14:47:06Z
• Authors: Andreas Mühlhausen; Teresa Lenser; Klaus Mummenhoff; Günter Theißen
• Keywords: Homeodomain Proteins; 0301 basic medicine; 2. Zero hunger; Arabidopsis Proteins; Arabidopsis; Gene Expression; Nuclear Proteins; Sequence Analysis, DNA; 15. Life on land; Plants, Genetically Modified; Biological Evolution; Lepidium; Up-Regulation; 03 medical and health sciences; Phenotype; Species Specificity; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; RNA, Plant; Fruit; Brassicaceae; Mutation; Phylogeny; Plant Proteins

Summary In the B rassicaceae, indehiscent fruits evolved from dehiscent several times independently. Here we use closely related wild species of genus L epidium as a model system to analyse underlying developmental genetic mechanisms in candidate gene approach. ALCATRAZ ( ALC ), INDEHISCENT IND SHATTERPROOF 1 SHP ) and 2 are known fruit genes A rabidopsis thaliana that expressed valve margin governing dehiscence zone formation. Comparative expression analysis by quantitative RT ‐ PCR , Northern blot situ hybridization show their orthologues campestre (dehiscent fruits) similarly at margins. sharp contrast, respective is abolished corresponding tissue appelianum fruits, indicating changes pathway identified . caused transition investigated species. As parallel mutations different quite unlikely, conclude patterns probably upstream regulators / possible candidates being FRUITFULL FUL REPLUMLESS RPL APETALA AP ). However, neither analyses nor functional tests transgenic plants provided any evidence or were involved evolution indehiscence stronger compared identifies deserves further investigation.