| Abstract Detail
Development and Structure Akhter, Aniqa [1], Mustacchio, Theresa [2], Howarth, Dianella [3]. VIGS Knockdown of CYCLOIDEA in Scaevola aemula. Morphological shifts between radial symmetry (actinomorphy) and bilateral symmetry (zygomorphy) have been seen throughout angiosperm evolution. These shifts have been correlated with CYCLOIDEA (CYC)-like genes which play a role in patterning bilaterally symmetrical flowers. Three core eudicot clades of CYC-like genes have been identified: CYC1, CYC2 and CYC3, with CYC2-like genes being the most involved in dorsal specialization. Many plant groups have two copies of CYC2 which is more strongly expressed in dorsal petals than in ventral petals. Interestingly, the Australian and Pacific Island fan flowers of the Scaevola (Goodeniaceae) orient all their petal lobes toward the ventral side of the flower, leading to a strongly bilaterally symmetrical flower. Unlike other bilaterally symmetrical asterids, however, CYC2 has not duplicated in Goodeniaceae but does duplicate CYC3 genes. Therefore, Goodeniaceae species genomes contain CYC2, CYC3A, and CYC3B. Previous work in the lab has shown evidence that the one CYC2 copy is expressed similarly to those of other plant groups but the CYC3 genes have an increased expression ventrally which is the opposite of CYC2. In this study virus induced gene silencing (VIGS), will be used to study the morphological differences in floral bilateral symmetry by knocking down each of the CYC-like genes in Scaevola aemula (Goodeniaceae).
1 - St. John's University, Biology, 8000 Utopia Pkwy, Jamaica, NY, 11439, United States
2 - St. John's University, Biological Sciences, 8000 Utopia Pkwy, Jamaica, NY, 11439, United States
3 - St. John's University, Department Of Biological Sciences, St. Albert Hall Rm 257, 8000 Utopia Pkwy, Jamiaca, NY, 11439, United States
Keywords:
Cycloidea
Development
Evo-Devo
VIGS
Scaevola
Goodeniacaea
Floral Development
Floral morphology
Genes.
Presentation Type: Poster
Number: PDS002
Abstract ID:206
Candidate for Awards:Developmental and Structural Section best poster,Developmental and Structural Section Graduate Student Registration Award,Developmental and Structural Section Undergraduate Student Registration Award |
