Conical petal epidermal cells, regulated by the MYB transcription factor MIXTA, have an ancient origin within the angiosperms.
Resource type
Journal article
Date published
May 21, 2022
Abstract
Conical epidermal cells occur on the tepals (perianth organs, typically petals and/or sepals) of the majority of animal-pollinated angiosperms, where they play both visual and tactile roles in pollinator attraction, providing grip to foraging insects and enhancing colour, temperature and hydrophobicity. To explore the evolutionary history of conical epidermal cells in angiosperms, we surveyed the tepal epidermis in representative species of the ANA-grade families, the early-diverging successive sister lineages to all other extant angiosperms, and analysed the function of a candidate regulator of cell outgrowth from Cabomba caroliniana (Nymphaeales). We identified conical cells in at least two genera from different families (Austrobaileya, Cabomba). A single SBG9 MYB gene was isolated from C. caroliniana and found to induce strong differentiation of cellular outgrowth, including conical cells, when ectopically expressed in Nicotiana tabacum. Ontogenetic analysis and quantitative RT-PCR established that CcSBG9A1 is spatially and temporally expressed in a profile which correlates with a role in conical cell development. We conclude that conical or subconical cells on perianth organs are ancient within the angiosperms and most likely develop using a common genetic programme initiated by a SBG9 MYB transcription factor.
Project(s)
Priority 2: Trait Diversity and Function
Funder
| Funder name | Awards |
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, United Kingdom | Doctoral Training Grant Studenship |
Journal title
Journal of Experimental Botany
Volume
73
Issue
16
Article number
erac223
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Place of publication
Oxford, UK
ISSN
0022-0957
eISSN
1460-2431
Date accepted
May 20, 2021
Official URL
Rights statement
In Copyright
Additional information
IF = 6.992 (2021-2022)