Functional analysis of developmental control genes in California poppy (Eschscholzia californica Cham.)

The development of plant organs is organized by a hierarchy of regulatory genes interacting with each other to build the plant s structures. How exactly floral organs and their morphology has evolved in angiosperms is investigated in the field of evolutionary development (evo-devo). Evo-devo research requires model species from widely distributed phylogenetic lineages, and the presented results were conducted in Eschscholzia californica (California poppy), a member of the Papaveraceae, one of the earliest diverging lineages of the basal eudicots. The floral homeotic B class mutant sirene was characterized molecularly. The B class gene SIR (EScaGLO) was found to be responsible for the homeotic mutation due to the failure of its protein to participate in higher order MADS-box protein complexes known to mediate organ identity specification. Finally we analyzed the YABBY gene EcCRC and could establish lineage specific regulatory roles for this gene not deduced from other model species.