Floral meristem size and organ number correlation in Eucryphia (Cunoniaceae)

We present a comparative flower ontogenetic study in five species of the genus Eucryphia with the aim of testing whether differences in the organ number observed can be explained by changes in the meristematic size of floral meristem and floral organs. Species native to Oceania, viz. E. milliganii, E. lucida and E. moorei, have the smallest gynoecia with ca. 6 carpels, while the Chilean E. glutinosa and E. cordifolia present more than ten carpels. E. milliganii has the smallest flower with the lowest stamen number (ca. 50), while the other species produce around 200 stamens and more. Standardized measurements of meristematic sectors were taken in 49 developing flowers that were classified into three well-defined ontogenetic stages. Sizes of meristems varied significantly among species within each developmental stage as revealed by ANOVA analyses. Significant regressions between organ number and corresponding meristem size were consistent with the premise that a larger meristem size prior to organ initiation could be determining for a higher organ number. Flower organogenesis in Eucryphia also involves relevant meristem expansion while the organs are initiated, which results in a particular androecium patterning with a chaotic stamen arrangement. Meristem expansion also appears to be slower but more extensive in species with larger initial meristematic size, suggesting that flower phenotype can be determined in ontogeny by this heterochronic interplay of space and time.

Asymmetric morphogenetic cues along the transverse plane: shift from disymmetry to zygomorphy in the flower of Fumarioideae

PREMISE OF THE STUDY

Zygomorphy has evolved multiple times in angiosperms. Near-actinomorphy is the ancestral state in the early diverging eudicot family Papaveraceae. Zygomorphy evolved once in the subfamily Fumarioideae from a disymmetric state. Unusual within angiosperms, zygomorphy takes place along the transverse plane of the flower.

METHODS

We investigated floral development to understand the developmental bases of the evolution of floral symmetry in Papaveraceae. We then assessed the expression of candidate genes for the key developmental events responsible for the shift from disymmetry to transverse zygomorphy, namely CrabsClaw for nectary formation (PapCRC), ShootMeristemless (PapSTL) for spur formation, and Cycloidea (PapCYL) for growth control.

KEY RESULTS

We found that an early disymmetric groundplan is common to all species studied, and that actinomorphy was acquired after sepal initiation in Papaveroideae. The shift from disymmetry to zygomorphy in Fumarioideae was associated with early asymmetric growth of stamen filaments, followed by asymmetric development of nectary outgrowth and spur along the transverse plane. Patterns of PapSTL expression could not be clearly related to spur formation. PapCRC and PapCYL genes were expressed in the nectary outgrowths, with a pattern of expression correlated with asymmetric nectary development in the zygomorphic species. Additionally, PapCYL genes were found asymmetrically expressed along the transverse plane in the basal region of outer petals in the zygomorphic species.

CONCLUSION

Genes of PapCRC and PapCYL families could be direct or indirect targets of the initial transversally asymmetric cue responsible for the shift from disymmetry to zygomorphy in Fumarioideae.