Functional Evolution of Flower Organ Identity Genes in the basal Eudicot Thalictrum: Implications for transitions in breeding and pollination systems

基础真双子叶唐松草花器官识别基因的功能进化：对育种和授粉系统转变的影响

• 批准号: 1121669
• 负责人: Verónica Di Stilio
• 金额: $ 53.27万
• 依托单位: University of Washington
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1121669&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Functional; Evolution; Flower; Organ; Identity

Over a century after Charles Darwin referred to the origin and diversification of the flowering plants (angiosperms) as an "abominable mystery," answers to this dilemma are finally attainable. Modern developmental biology and genomics provide important clues: many of the genes controlling flower development have been identified and, importantly, gene duplication is often associated with diversification. This project will elucidate how the genes underlying floral development assume different roles driving the remarkable diversification of land plants. Thus, the project will advance the field of evolution of development ("evo-devo"). The project also will inform efforts to modify floral structure to benefit humanity; as the precursors of seeds, fruits and pollen, flowers are the foundation of the entire human food supply. The plant group used in this study, Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae), has a diverse and uniquely useful combination of features: unisexual and bisexual flowers, insect and wind pollination. Thalictrum is, therefore, an excellent laboratory to determine the basis for transitions in breeding and pollination system. The project will take advantage of cultivars with modified floral patterns and experimental gene disruption to inform a model of floral organ specification after gene duplication. A second aim is to recapitulate transitions from hermaphrodite to female flowers, and from showy insect-pollinated to inconspicuous wind-pollinated flowers.The project will engage undergraduate researchers through the university-sponsored programs including Genomics Outreach for Minorities (GenOM-ALVA), NASA-SURP and HHMI Integrative Research Internships. Activities will include participation in presentations at scientific meetings and peer-reviewed publications. Outreach activities include participation in National Laboratory Day, Native Plant Society talks and a website for data-sharing.

查尔斯·达尔文（Charles Darwin）将开花植物（血管）的起源和多样化为“可恶的谜团”之后一个世纪以来，对这一困境的答案终于可以达到。现代发育生物学和基因组学提供了重要的线索：已经确定了许多控制花朵发育的基因，重要的是，基因复制通常与多样化有关。该项目将阐明花卉发育的基因如何扮演不同的作用，推动了陆地植物的显着多样化。因此，该项目将推进发展的发展领域（“ evo-devo”）。该项目还将告知修改花卉结构以使人类受益的努力；作为种子，水果和花粉的前体，鲜花是整个人类粮食供应的基础。在这项研究中使用的植物群，Thalictrum（ranunculaceae）具有多样化且独特的特征组合：中性和双性恋花朵，昆虫和风授粉。因此，Thalictrum是确定育种和授粉系统过渡基础的出色实验室。该项目将利用具有修改的花卉模式和实验基因破坏的品种，以告知基因复制后的花器规格模型。第二个目的是概括从雌雄同体到雌花的过渡，以及从艳丽的​​昆虫授粉到不起眼的风授粉花朵。该项目将通过大学赞助的课程（包括Genom-Alva的Genom-Alva），NASA-SASA-SURP和HHMI集成研究实习生，使本科研究人员通过大学赞助的课程与本科研究人员互动。活动将包括参加演讲，并在科学会议和同行评审的出版物中参加。外展活动包括参加国家实验室日，本地植物协会会谈和用于数据共享的网站。