https://www.cell.com/trends/plant-science/pdf/S1360-1385(08)00023-X.pdf

MADS about the evolution of orchid flowers

Reproductive organ development is one of the most important steps in the life cycle of plants. Studies using core eudicot species like thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) have shown that MADS domain transcription factors belonging to the AGAMOUS (AG) subfamily regulate the identity of stamens, carpels, and ovules and that they are important for floral meristem determinacy. Here, we investigate the genetic interactions between the four rice (Oryza sativa) AG subfamily members, MADS3, MADS13, MADS21, and MADS58. Our data show that, in contrast with previous reports, MADS3 and MADS58 determine stamen and carpel identity and, together with MADS13, are important for floral meristem determinacy. In the mads3 mads58 double mutant, we observed a complete loss of reproductive organ identity and massive accumulation of lodicules in the third and fourth floral whorls. MADS21 is an AGL11 lineage gene whose expression is not restricted to ovules. Instead, its expression profile is similar to those of class C genes. However, our genetic analysis shows that MADS21 has no function in stamen, carpel, or ovule identity determination.

Functional Analysis of All AGAMOUS Subfamily Members in Rice Reveals Their Roles in Reproductive Organ Identity Determination and Meristem Determinacy

Why are orchid flowers so diverse? Reduction of evolutionary constraints by paralogues of class B floral homeotic genes

In flowering plants, class-B floral homeotic genes encode MADS-domain transcription factors, which are key in the specification of petal and stamen identity, and have two ancient clades: DEF-like and GLO-like genes. Many species have one gene of each clade, but orchids have typically four DEF-like genes, representing ancient gene clades 1, 2, 3 and 4. We tested the 'orchid code', a combinatorial genetic model suggesting that differences between the organs of the orchid perianth (outer tepals, inner lateral tepals and labellum) are generated by the combinatorial differential expression of four DEF-like genes. Our experimental test involves highly sensitive and specific measurements, with qRT-PCR of the expression of DEF- and GLO-like genes from the distantly related Vanilla planifolia and Phragmipedium longifolium, as well as from wild-type and peloric Phalaenopsis hybrid flowers. Our findings support the first 'orchid code' hypothesis, in that absence of clade-3 and -4 gene expression distinguishes the outer tepals from the inner tepals. In contrast to the original hypothesis, however, mRNA of both clade-3 and -4 genes accumulates in wild-type inner lateral tepals and the labellum, and in labellum-like inner lateral tepals of peloric flowers, albeit in different quantities. Our data suggest a revised hypothesis where high levels of clade-1 and -2, and low levels of clade-3 and -4, gene expression specify inner lateral tepals, whereas labellum development requires low levels of clade-1 and -2 expression and high levels of clade-3 and -4 expression.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-313X.2011.04560.x

Conserved differential expression of paralogous DEFICIENS- and GLOBOSA-like MADS-box genes in the flowers of Orchidaceae: refining the 'orchid code'.

To investigate sepal/petal/lip formation in Oncidium Gower Ramsey, three paleoAPETALA3 genes, O. Gower Ramsey MADS box gene5 (OMADS5; clade 1), OMADS3 (clade 2), and OMADS9 (clade 3), and one PISTILLATA gene, OMADS8, were characterized. The OMADS8 and OMADS3 mRNAs were expressed in all four floral organs as well as in vegetative leaves. The OMADS9 mRNA was only strongly detected in petals and lips. The mRNA for OMADS5 was only strongly detected in sepals and petals and was significantly down-regulated in lip-like petals and lip-like sepals of peloric mutant flowers. This result revealed a possible negative role for OMADS5 in regulating lip formation. Yeast two-hybrid analysis indicated that OMADS5 formed homodimers and heterodimers with OMADS3 and OMADS9. OMADS8 only formed heterodimers with OMADS3, whereas OMADS3 and OMADS9 formed homodimers and heterodimers with each other. We proposed that sepal/petal/lip formation needs the presence of OMADS3/8 and/or OMADS9. The determination of the final organ identity for the sepal/petal/lip likely depended on the presence or absence of OMADS5. The presence of OMADS5 caused short sepal/petal formation. When OMADS5 was absent, cells could proliferate, resulting in the possible formation of large lips and the conversion of the sepal/petal into lips in peloric mutants. Further analysis indicated that only ectopic expression of OMADS8 but not OMADS5/9 caused the conversion of the sepal into an expanded petal-like structure in transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants.

http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/plantphysiol/152/2/837.full.pdf

Characterization of the possible roles for B class MADS box genes in regulation of perianth formation in orchid.

Expression of a DEFICIENS-like gene correlates with the differentiation between sepal and petal in the orchid, Habenaria radiata (Orchidaceae)

Members of the AGAMOUS (AG) family of MADS-box genes play important roles in regulating the development of reproductive organs in flowering plants. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of floral development in Asparagus virgatus, we isolated and characterized an Asparagus AG-homologue, AVAG2. AVAG2 contains an open reading frame that encodes a deduced protein with 234 amino acid residues. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that AVAG2 belongs to the D-lineage of the AG gene family. AVAG2 mRNA was detected in the flower, but not in vegetative organs. Moreover, in in situ hybridization experiments, AVAG2 signals were observed in the stamens and carpels during early flower development, and appeared in the ovule only at later developmental stages. This suggests that the AVAG2 gene is involved in ovule formation. Thus, our expression data support the phylogenetic analysis indicating that AVAG2 belongs to the D-class gene family.

AVAG2 is a putative D-class gene from an ornamental asparagus

The AGAMOUS (AG)-like gene has been reported to be involved in the formation of the stamens and carpels. The genus Asparagus contains hermaphrodite and dioecious species, and analysis of the AG-like genes in these species may reveal how these different reproductive systems have evolved in this genus. We isolated one AG-like gene, designated AVAG1, from the ornamental hermaphrodite species Asparagus virgatus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the AVAG1 gene is closely related to HAG1 from Hyacinthus and PeMADS1 from Phalaenopsis. Northern blot analysis showed that AVAG1 transcripts were detected in flower buds, but not in roots, stems or phylloclades. In situ hybridization analyses revealed that the AVAG1 mRNA is expressed specifically in the floral meristem and the developing reproductive organs. Early in flower development, expression of AVAG1 was restricted mainly to the stamens and carpels, with AVAG1 expression in the stamen disappearing at later stages of flower development, although it remained strong in the ovule.

The AVAG1 gene is involved in development of reproductive organs in the ornamental asparagus, Asparagus virgatus

This study was carried out to develop a new application field and obtain the basic data of citrus peel as waste in Jeju island and traditional Hanji for producing functional Hanji. The results measuring physical and optical properties, water vapor permeance and antibacterial activity are as follows. It was revealed that apparent density go as down but bulk raise up in the structural view of Hanji with increasing of the addition various Korean citrus peel (citrus unshiu, cheonggyun and hanrabong peel, and citrus unshiu peel powder) percentages, and that the density of Hanji added citrus unshiu peel was higher, but bulk was lower in compared with Hanji added other kinds of peel. Those Hanji added citrus unshiu peel, cheonggyun peel, hanrabong peel and citrus unshiu powder were very great not only in the strength (breaking length, burst index, tear index and folding endurance) but also in water vapor permeant rate in comparison with Hanji. The pHs of Hanji were neutrality (7 to 8). The brightness of the Hanji added various citrus peel percentages was low in compared to Hanji, and the 40% addition of hanrabong peel was the lowest. When 40% hanrabong peel was added to Hanji, it was very yellow in the color degree. When cheonggyun peel was added to Hanji manufacture, water vapor permeant rate was highly effective. It is known that vacant space of intrafiber was reduced by image analysis of Hanji and the additions of peel of citrus unshiu, cheonggyun and hanrabong were distributed equally in the interior of Hanji. The antibacterial activity of Hanji added citrus unshiu peel is more than 98%. After all, it would be able to increase utilization of Hanji, extensively. Namely, production of high quality Hanji added functional materials is expected for new valuable industry of citrus peel and Hanji.

So Young Kim

Papers

Expression of a DEFICIENS-like gene correlates with the differentiation between sepal and petal in the orchid, Habenaria radiata (Orchidaceae)

AVAG2 is a putative D-class gene from an ornamental asparagus

The AVAG1 gene is involved in development of reproductive organs in the ornamental asparagus, Asparagus virgatus

Development of Functional Hanji added Citrus Peel(I)- Hanji added Korean Citrus Peel -

Production of intraspecific hybrids between wild-type and petaloid-sepal cultivars in Habenaria radiata