Number Of Carpels Research Articles

A newUvariaL. species (Annonaceae) from northern Mozambique

A new species Uvaria rovumae Deroin & Lotter, sp. nov. is described, illustrated and mapped from Cabo Delgado Province in northern Mozambique. Its morphology, as well as systematic affinities, habitat and conservation status are briefly discussed. Very similar to U. tanzaniae Verdc. by its habit, it differs mainly by its free sepals, inner petals slightly unguiculate and a high carpel number (>35). Uvaria rovumae Deroin & Lotter, sp. nov. is known only from a handful of individual plants in one location near Nangade, making it “Critically Endangered” (CR) following IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

Molecular Mechanism of microRNA396 Mediating Pistil Development in Arabidopsis

The precise control of gene regulation, and hence, correct spatiotemporal tissue patterning, is crucial for plant development. Plant microRNAs can constrain the expression of their target genes at posttranscriptional levels. Recently, microRNA396 (miR396) has been characterized to regulate leaf development by mediating cleavage of its GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) targets. miR396 is also preferentially expressed in flowers. However, its function in flower development is unclear. In addition to narrow leaves, pistils with a single carpel were also observed in miR396 overexpression plants. The dramatically reduced expression levels of miR396 targets (GRF1, GRF2, GRF3, GRF4, GRF7, GRF8, and GRF9) caused pistil abnormalities, because the miR396-resistant version of GRF was able to rescue miR396-overexpressing plants. Both GRF and GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR (GIF) genes are highly expressed in developing pistils, and their expression patterns are negatively correlated with that of miR396. GRF interacted with GIF to form the GRF/GIF complex in plant cell nucleus. miR396 suppressed the expression of GRF genes, resulting in reduction of GRF/GIF complex. gif single mutant displayed normal pistils, whereas gif triple mutant gif1/gif2/gif3 produced abnormal pistils, which was a phenocopy of 35S:MIR396a/grf5 plants. GRF and GIF function as cotranscription factors, and both are required for pistil development. Our analyses reveal an important role for miR396 in controlling carpel number and pistil development via regulation of the GRF/GIF complex.

Características florais e carpométricas e germinação in vitro de grãos de pólen de cultivares de amoreira‑preta

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as características florais e carpométricas, a viabilidade dos grãos de pólen e a capacidade germinativa de sementes de cultivares de amoreira‑preta. Foram avaliadas as cultivares Brazos, Caingangue, Cherokee, Choctaw, Comanche, Guarani, BRS Tupy e Ébano. Utilizou-se um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com as oito cultivares e dez repetições. Foram feitas avaliações quanto a: número de estames, carpelos, pétalas e sépalas; composição do meio de cultura; número de grãos de pólen por antera e por flor; taxa de germinação de grãos de pólen; percentagem de frutificação; massa de matéria fresca, dimensões e número de sementes dos frutos; massa e dimensões dos drupetes; e percentagem de emergência de plântulas. O meio de cultura estabelecido para as cultivares de amoreira‑preta foi acrescido de 90 g L‑1 de sacarose e 400 mg L‑1 de ácido bórico, com pH aferido para 6,5 e meio solidificado com 8 g L‑1 de ágar. 'Caingangue', 'Ébano' e 'BRS Tupy' apresentaram baixa germinação de grãos de pólen. 'Ébano' apresentou frutos arredondados e com poucos drupetes. 'Choctaw' e 'Comanche' apresentaram baixa percentagem de emergência de plântulas. 'Brazos' destacou-se na maioria das características avaliadas e é considerada como boa progenitora para programas de melhoramento genético.

Phylogenetic relationships and character evolution analysis of Saxifragales using a supermatrix approach

We sought novel evolutionary insights for the highly diverse Saxifragales by constructing a large phylogenetic tree encompassing 36.8% of the species-level biodiversity. • We built a phylogenetic tree for 909 species of Saxifragales and used this hypothesis to examine character evolution for annual or perennial habit, woody or herbaceous habit, ovary position, petal number, carpel number, and stamen to petal ratio. We employed likelihood approaches to investigate the effect of habit and life history on speciation and extinction within this clade. • Two major shifts occurred from a woody ancestor to the herbaceous habit, with multiple secondary changes from herbaceous to woody. Transitions among superior, subinferior, and inferior ovaries appear equiprobable. A major increase in petal number is correlated with a large increase in carpel number; these increases have co-occurred multiple times in Crassulaceae. Perennial or woody lineages have higher rates of speciation than annual or herbaceous ones, but higher probabilities of extinction offset these differences. Hence, net diversification rates are highest for annual, herbaceous lineages and lowest for woody perennials. The shift from annuality to perenniality in herbaceous taxa is frequent. Conversely, woody perennial lineages to woody annual transitions are infrequent; if they occur, the woody annual state is left immediately. • The large tree provides new insights into character evolution that are not obvious with smaller trees. Our results indicate that in some cases the evolution of angiosperms might be conditioned by constraints that have been so far overlooked.

Genetic variability of berry size in the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

Background and Aims Berry weight in the grapevine, as in the tomato, is variable, ranging from less than 1 g to 10 g. In the tomato, berry weight depends on cell number and volume but also on carpel number. The aim of this work was to decipher the range of variation and to propose a role for subtraits possibly underlying berry size variation in a highly diverse collection of cultivated grapevines. Methods and Results Cell division before and after anthesis and cell expansion after anthesis appeared to be the major determinants of flesh weight variation between cultivars. Carpel number varied between cultivars, with two and three carpels per ovary. This trait, however, and also the seed weight did not clearly contribute to berry size variation, although a positive correlation was found between seed weight and number and berry weight at the intragenotypic level, in agreement with previous results. Conclusions This work deciphered the main anatomical factors underlying variation in berry size in Vitis vinifera; they involved both common fleshy fruits factors but also specific vine factors. Significance of the Study Further studies of the variation in berry size of the the grape will be assisted by the anatomical factors identified in this study.

<i>Magnolia lacandonica</i> (subsection <i>Talauma</i>, Magnoliaceae), a new rainforest species from Chiapas, Mexico

A new species of Magnolia from the rainforest of Chiapas, Mexico, is described and illustrated. Magnolia lacandonica belongs to section Talauma subsection Talauma and is similar to M. mexicana , but it differs from the latter in having larger number of carpels and stamens, the dorsal wall of carpels unhumped vs humped, an outer spathaceous bract topped with a reduced leaf blade vs lacking leaf blade and petals entirely white vs tinged with purple.

Magnolia jaenensis y M. manguillo, nuevas especies de Magnoliaceae del norte de Perú

Two new species of Magnoliaceae, Magnolia jaenensis and M. manguillo, from the Department of Cajamarca, Peru, are described. Magnolia jaenensis is similar to M. yarumalensis but differs in the shape of the leaves and sepals, number of petals, stem and carpels. Magnolia manguillo differs from M. henaoi, M. bankardiorum, and M. virolinensis in the length of the petiole, number of secondary leaf veins, shape and length of the vaginal hypsophyll, shape of sepals, and number of carpels. Both species are the first records of Magnolia for the Peruvian montane forest at elevations above 2100 m. Furthermore, information about phenology, habitat, and conservation status are provided for each species.

<i>Magnolia quetzal</i> and <i>Magnolia mayae</i>, a new species and a new record, respectively, for the flora of Guatemala

Magnolia quetzal , a new species from Quiche, Guatemala is described and illustrated; it belongs to section Talauma , subsection Talauma ; it differs from M. morii in having much larger flowers, thinner leaf blades, usually longer petioles larger fruits and larger number of carpels and stamens. Magnolia mayae from Huehuetenango is here presented as the first record for the Flora of Guatemala.

Genes that influence yield in tomato

Yield is the most important breeding trait of crops. For fruit-bearing plants such as Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), fruit formation directly affects yield. The final fruit size depends on the number and volume of cell layers in the pericarp of the fruit, which is determined by the degree of cell division and expansion in the fertilized ovaries. Thus, fruit yield in tomato is predominantly determined by the efficiency of fruit set and the final cell number and size of the fruits. Through domestication, tomato fruit yield has been markedly increased as a result of mutations associated with fruit size and genetic studies have identified the genes that influence the cell cycle, carpel number and fruit set. Additionally, several lines of evidence have demonstrated that plant hormones control fruit set and size through the delicate regulation of genes that trigger physiological responses associated with fruit expansion. In this review, we introduce the key genes involved in tomato breeding and describe how they affect the physiological processes that contribute to tomato yield.

Overexpression of a serine carboxypeptidase increases carpel number and seed production in Arabidopsis thaliana

AbstractSeed production is an ultimate component of crop yield. Increasing seed production has long been a pursuit for crop breeders and is an indisputable measure of food safety. Advances in biotechnology can provide novel means to achieve increased seed production by genetic engineering. Overexpression of ECS1 (Extra Carpels and Seeds), a gene encoding a serine carboxypeptidase, partially suppresses the leaf phenotypes of mutant bri1‐5, a weak allele of brassinosteroid‐insensitive 1 (BRI1). Moreover, overexpression of ECS1 increases the number of carpels and seeds per fruit (silique) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Most of the ECS1‐overexpressing lines have three‐carpel siliques instead of two‐carpel siliques found in wild type, while some even have four‐carpel siliques. Wild‐type plants have an average seed number of 66.2 ± 3.6 per silique, whereas ECS1‐overexpressing lines contain 88.1 ± 4.1 seeds per silique. The total seed weight per silique increases by about 33% in ECS1‐overexpressing plants due to the increased total number of seeds. In addition, ECS1 overexpression enhances the multi‐carpel phenotypes in clavata3‐2 and causes severely fasciated stems in det2 mutants. To the best of our knowledge, it has not been previously shown that overexpressions of genes that encode serine carboxypeptidases are implicated in reproductive development or produce an increased carpel and seed numbers in any plant species.

<p><strong><em>Magnolia zoquepopolucae </em></strong><strong>(subsection <em>Talauma</em>, Magnoliaceae), a new species from Sierra de Santa Marta, Veracruz, Mexico</strong></p>

A new rainforest species of Magnolia from Sierra Santa Marta, Soteapan, Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico, is described and illustrated. Magnolia zoquepopolucae belongs to section Talauma, subsection Talauma. It differs from M. mexicana in having fruits spheroidal versus ovoid to ellipsoidal, the dorsal wall of carpels non humped versus humped, a larger number of carpels and stamens, longer petioles, petals and sepals, and more gradually attenuated petals. The flowers of this species are used to prepare a chocolate-like and masa (maize)-based hot drink by the Zoque Popoluca culture, which is valued for medicinal purposes.

Magnolia mayae (Magnoliaceae), a new species from Chiapas, Mexico

A new species of Magnolia from Chiapas, Mexico is described and illustrated. A table of morphological characters contrasting species of Magnolia Sect. Magnolia in Chiapas is provided. Magnolia mayae is similar to M. grandiflora, but it differs from the latter in having longer leaves, less coriaceous and abaxially glabrous vs abaxially densely ferrugineous pubescent; smaller flowers with less than half of the stamens, and a smaller number of carpels.

Taxonomic Revision of the Neotropical Genus <I>Lacunaria</I> (Quiinaceae / Ochnaceae s. l.)

Abstract A taxonomic revision of the Neotropical dioecious genus Lacunaria (Quiinaceae / Ochnaceae s. l.) is presented including keys to the species and subspecies, descriptions, illustrations, nomenclature, typification, and geographical distribution of each species. Seven species are recognized within the genus, one subspecies, L. jenmanii subsp. subsessilis, is described newly, and the status of Lacunaria decastyla has been changed, transferring it to Lacunaria crenata subsp. decastyla. Leaf pubescence, number of secondary veins, and petal, stamen, and carpel number, although all quite variable, are the most important characters to distinguish the species.

Molecular characterization of the PpMADS1 gene from peach

PpMADS1, a member of the euAP1 clade of the class A genes, was previously cloned from peach. In this study, PpMADS1 was constitutively expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana to study its function in plant development. The transgenic A. thaliana plants containing 35S::PpMADS1 showed severe phenotype variation including early flowering, conversion of inflorescence branches to solitary flowers, formation of terminal flowers, production of higher number of carpels, petals, and stamens than non-transgenic plants, and prevention of pod shatter. Significantly, the transgenic plants produced more than one silique from a single flower. The results obtained by using cDNA microarray and real-time PCR analyses in the transgenic Arabidopsis indicated that PpMADS1 might play dual roles in regulating the floral meristem development by activating or repressing different sets of genes that would determine the different fate of a floral meristem. In addition, the PpMADS1 gene promoter was further cloned, and deletion analyses were conducted by using fused GUS as a reporter gene in transgenic A. thaliana. Histochemical staining of different organs from transgenic plants revealed the region between −197 and −454 bp was specific for GUS expression in flower primordium, and the region between −454 and −678 bp was specific for GUS expression in sepals and petals. In contrast, a negative regulatory element present between −678 and −978 bp could suppress GUS expression in filament.

A taxonomic revision and pollen morphology of the genus Dendrokingstonia (Annonaceae)

The genus Dendrokingstonia (Annonaceae) is taxonomically revised and palynologically studied. Three species are recognized, one of which, D. gardneri, is described as new to science. One new combination, D. acuminata, is made. The genus occurs from southern Thailand to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. On the basis of macromorphology and pollen characters, it is considered to be related to Monocarpia. Both genera show a combination of macromorphological characters that is rare in the family, i.e. considerably enlarged stigmas, leaves with percurrent tertiary veins, a highly reduced number of carpels per flower and relatively large monocarps with a thick, hard wall. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy show that the pollen grains of Dendrokingstonia and Monocarpia are monosulcate monads with a columellate infratectum and a more or less bulging intine at the sulcus. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 168, 76–90.

Paeonia rotundiloba (D. Y. Hong) D. Y. Hong: A new status in tree peonies (Paeoniaceae)

Abstract Paeonia decomposita Hand.‐Mazz. subsp. rotundiloba D. Y. Hong is here raised to the specific rank, P. rotundiloba (D. Y. Hong) D. Y. Hong, based on its distinctiveness of four diagnostic characters: number of carpels; height of disk; number of leaflets of the lower leaves, and shape of the terminal leaflets; and unpublished molecular data. Paeonia rotundiloba differs distinctly from P. decomposita in having carpels mostly 3, less often 2 or 4, very rarely 5 (vs. almost always 5, very occasionally 4 or 3), disk 8–15 mm high (vs. 4–9.6 mm), leaflets mostly 19–39 (vs. 29–63) in number, and ratio of length to width of the terminal leaflets 1.09–1.93 (vs. 1.81–2.99).

Floral Anatomy of AsianSchefflera(Araliaceae, Apiales): Comparing Variation of Flower Groundplan and Vascular Patterns

Floral morphology and vascular anatomy in members of the Asian Schefflera clade (Araliaceae) are studied. This clade is of special interest because of secondary loss of flower groundplan stability and increase of merism. Among five species studied, three have isomerous pentamerous flowers, one has (almost) isomerous polymerous flowers, and one has nonisomerous flowers as a result of increased carpel number. Loss of calyx innervation and reduction of sepals are suggested as apomorphic for the subclade Heptapleurum s.l. Tupidanthus calyptratus, a member of this subclade with the most polymerous gynoecium among asterids, shares those features, too. Range of petal venation diversity within the species examined exceeds what was previously estimated for the family Araliaceae and the order Apiales. Formation of anastomoses between the bundles of petals and stamens in bisexual flowers of Schefflera venulosa is suggested as an effect of high auxin production in developing anthers. A shift of the ovule supply from ventral bundles to lateral ones occurs in different lineages of Apiales. Fusion between peripheral and dorsal bundles is an effect of flower topography that may not be considered an advanced character state. Strong differences in floral vasculature between closely related species with the same flower groundplan are highlighted.

Within-carpel and among-carpel competition during seed development, and selection on carpel number, in the apocarpous perennial herb Helleborus foetidus L. (Ranunculaceae)

Apocarpous flowers share opportunities for post-fertilization ovule selection among more functional levels than syncarpous flowers, because the occurrence of a variable number of unfused carpels adds a new source of variation to the likelihood of successful female reproduction. The extent to which post-fertilization events might differ among these unfused carpels may promote variations in the reproductive strategies of plants. We report a study of the variation, within and among carpels and flowers, in seed production and mass in the apocarpous Helleborus foetidus (Ranunculaceae), in relation to the number of carpels per flower. Differences within and among carpels in female reproductive success were affected by carpel number and pollination environment. When analysing whole flowers as functional units we also found that the magnitude of the differences related to carpel number and pollination treatment actually depended on the “distribution” of pollen types within flowers. Thus, variable within-flower pollination environments, more likely to occur in apocarpous than in syncarpous flowers, may affect the strategies of resource allocation for fruit development at different stages of the reproductive process. Regarding seed production, we found that producing more flowers with four carpels was under directional; however, when mean diaspore mass was considered as a measure of fitness, directional selection was found on producing flowers with two and three carpels (the modal carpel number found in wild populations). We discuss ecological and developmental reasons which could explain the observed pattern, and conclude that selection on an optimum carpel number may be very variable across the species range, as the discussed reasons may impose constraints on eventual evolutionary response, thus contributing to the maintenance of the intra-individual variability in carpel number.

Flower and fruit characters in the early‐divergent lamiid family Metteniusaceae, with particular reference to the evolution of pseudomonomery

Evaluating the morphological relationships of angiosperm families that still remain unplaced in the current systems of classification is challenging because it requires comparative data across a broad phylogenetic range. The small neotropical family Metteniusaceae was recently placed within the lamiids, as sister to either the enigmatic Oncothecaceae or the clade (Boraginaceae + Gentianales + Lamiales + Solanales + Vahliaceae). We examined the development of two of the primary diagnostic traits of Metteniusaceae, the moniliform anthers and the unilocular gynoecium. The gynoecium is 5-carpellate, and contains two ovules with a massive, vascularized integument. Late sympetaly and unitegmic ovules support placement of Metteniusaceae in the lamiids. The 5-carpellate gynoecium is consistent with a sister-group relationship between Metteniusaceae and Oncothecaceae. The gynoecium of Metteniusaceae is unusual in that it is monosymmetric throughout ontogeny, which indicates pseudomonomery; the five carpel initials are congenitally fused by their margins and form a single locule; the two ovules develop from the two smallest and most poorly developed lateral carpels. Comparisons with other pseudomonomerous taxa allow us to propose division of the complex processes leading to pseudomonomery into eight characters, including carpel number and fusion, gynoecial symmetry, timing of carpel reduction, and number and position of nonfertile carpels.

Morphology and development of the gynoecium in Centrolepidaceae: The most remarkable range of variation in Poales

This paper explores the relative impacts of reduction and polymerization on the evolution of reproductive structures in the small but morphologically diverse family Centrolepidaceae. Centrolepidaceae are closely related to Restionaceae and belong to the large order Poales, which also includes the grasses. In the largest genus of Centrolepidaceae, Centrolepis, the reproductive structures are viewed either as highly unusual aggregations of reduced flowers (the pseudanthial interpretation) or as unique flowers evolved through extreme reduction in the androecium, usually accompanied by a drastic increase in carpel number and elaboration of the entire gynoecium. Comparative data are here presented on gynoecia of all three genera of Centrolepidaceae; these data strongly support the latter (euanthial) interpretation. The combined phenomenon of carpel multiplication and decrease in stamen number is unexpected in a predominantly wind-pollinated lineage. Applying a pseudanthial interpretation would create a considerable morphological gap with reproductive structures of other Poales, whereas accepting a euanthial concept allows an almost continuous morphological series with related taxa.