Flowers Research Articles

Herbivore-Mediated Selection on Floral Display Covaries Nonlinearly With Plant-Antagonistic Interaction Intensity Among Primrose Populations.

Quantifying the relations between plant-antagonistic interactions and natural selection among populations is important for predicting how spatial variation in ecological interactions drive adaptive differentiation. Here, we investigate the relations between the opportunity for selection, herbivore-mediated selection, and the intensity of plant-herbivore interaction among 11 populations of the insect-pollinated plant Primula florindae over 2 years. We experimentally quantified herbivore-mediated directional selection on three floral traits (two display and one phenological) within populations and found evidence for herbivore-mediated selection for a later flowering start date and a greater number of flowers per plant. The opportunity for selection and strength of herbivore-mediated selection on number of flowers varied nonlinearly with the intensity of herbivory among populations. These parameters increased and then decreased with increasing intensity of plant-herbivore interactions, defined as an increase in the ratio of herbivore-damaged flowers per individual. Our results provide novel insights into how plant-antagonistic interactions can shape spatial variation in selection on floral traits and contribute toward understanding the mechanistic basis of geographic variation in angiosperm flowers.

Nectar Chemistry or Flower Morphology-What Is More Important for the Reproductive Success of Generalist Orchid Epipactis palustris in Natural and Anthropogenic Populations?

The aim of this study was to determine the level of reproductive success (RS) in natural and anthropogenic populations of generalist orchid Epipactis palustris and its dependence on flower structure and nectar composition, i.e., amino acids and sugars. We found that both pollinaria removal and female reproductive success were high and similar in all populations, despite differences in flower traits and nectar chemistry. Flower structures were weakly correlated with parameters of RS. Nectar traits were more important in shaping RS; although, we noted differentiated selection on nectar components in distinct populations. Individuals in natural populations produced nectar with a larger amount of sugars and amino acids. The sucrose to (fructose and glucose) ratio in natural populations was close to 1, while in anthropogenic ones, a clear domination of fructose and glucose was noted. Our results indicate that the flower traits and nectar composition of E. palustris reflect its generalist character and meet the requirements of a wide range of pollinators, differing according to body sizes, mouth apparatus, and dietary needs. Simultaneously, differentiation of nectar chemistry suggests a variation of pollinator assemblages in particular populations or domination of their some groups. To our knowledge, a comparison of nectar chemistry between natural and anthropogenic populations of orchids is reported for the first time in this paper.

Impact of glycerol droplets form bifurcating flower structure when impacting with water

Experiments show gravitational acceleration and Rayleigh-Tayler instability are at the evolution of a vortex ring to structures that resemble stems, petals and stamens.

Evolution of a Fault-Controlled, Deep-Water Sub-Basin, Tabernas, SE Spain

The Neogene Tabernas Basin, SE Spain, provides important evidence at outcrop for the interplay between tectonic deformation of the sea floor, slope instability and turbidity current behaviour. Dextral-oblique strike-slip faults and associated folds propagated along the basin axis to deform the palaeo-sea floor, creating structurally-controlled depressions in which turbidity currents were trapped and ponded. EW-trending syn-depositional faults define a narrow sub-basin that subsided asymmetrically as a negative flower structure. The sub-basin contains an expanded succession (>300 m of ponded turbidite sheets, debrites and slumps) along its northern margin flanked by the principal fault strand defined by a wide zone of sheared and calcite-veined marl. A narrower fault zone with a smaller displacement marks the southern margin of the sub-basin and the fill close to it is thin with internal discordances, evidence of local failure and southward thinning of sandstone sheets. Both northern and southern faults ‘died’ at the same stratigraphic level and were overstepped by basin floor turbidites showing evidence of weaker and longer-range topographic confinement. As turbidites healed and aggraded out of the sub-basin to progressively onlap the southern margin of the basin, major gravity failures occurred emplacing thick (>100 m) mass-transport complexes. The first initially reworked the southern part of the sub-basin fill together with the early onlap wedge, the second remobilised the onlap wedge, and the third records failure of the upper part of the slope well above the wedge. The first two were toe-confined failures, the third and furthest travelled was confined by basin axis topography. All three failures are lateral to or directly overlain by ‘megabed’ sheets on the basin floor, implying either a common trigger (earthquakes) or slope instability following reflection of large volume flows. Tabernas turbidites highlight the role of basin tectonics (as opposed to up-dip supply and sea level fluctuations) in directly impacting on deep-water processes and stratigraphy. Small deep-water transtensional sub-basins opened up along long transfer faults accommodating regional extension.

4D printing of thermal responsive structure for environmentally adaptive radiative cooling and heating

AbstractFour‐dimensional (4D) printing, which combines a three‐dimensional (3D) printing process with dynamic modulation of materials, provides a possible solution to achieve stimuli‐responsive microstructure that exhibit more complex functionality. One of the potential applications for these stimuli‐responsive hydrogels is switchable passive radiative cooling and warming. However, most current attempts are limited to mono‐functionality, either radiative cooling or warming only. In this article, we demonstrate a double‐side morphing flower structure for a dual functionality, switchable cooling or warming dependent on the environment. The morphing structure was designed with the aid of emissivity calculations and then fabricated by the 3D printing method. The transition between open‐flower and close‐flower states occurs at 32°C within a minute, resulting in ~35% emissivity difference between these two states. As a result, the power difference between inner layer and outer layer was as high as 22 W/m2 which is a function of pyramid bottom size.

Optimizing irrigation and fertilization at various growth stages to improve mango yield, fruit quality and water-fertilizer use efficiency in xerothermic regions

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the widely grown fruit crops and brings remarkable economic benefit in the xerothermic regions of southwest China. However, mango yield and quality can not be guaranteed due to the severe seasonal drought, low precipitation and extensive management of water and fertilizer. To investigate the effects of irrigation amount and fertilizer regime on mango yield, fruit quality, water use efficiency (WUE) and partial fertilizer productivity (PFP), an orthogonal experiment [L9(3)4] was conducted on mango under drip fertigation during 2018–2019. The four factors were irrigation amount (IA) and fertilization rate at the flowering (FⅠ), fruit expansion (FⅡ) and fruit ripening (FⅢ) growth stages. There were three irrigation amounts, i.e., full irrigation (FI: 100%ETc), mild deficit irrigation (DIM: 75%ETc) and severe deficit irrigation (DIS: 50%ETc), and three fertilization rates, i.e., 75 (F75), 50 (F50) and 25 (F25) kg ha−1 using a compound water-soluble fertilizer (N:P2O5:K2O=20%:20%:20%). The results showed the order of factors influencing fruit yield and WUE in terms of their importance was IA, FⅡ, FⅠ and FⅢ, that influencing water, vitamin C and carotenoid contents in fruit was IA, FⅢ, FⅡ and FⅠ, and that influencing soluble solids and total sugar contents was IA, FⅢ, FⅠ and FⅡ. The WUE of DIMFⅠ50FⅡ75FⅢ25 was highest. FIFⅠ25FⅡ75FⅢ50 achieved the highest fruit yield, PFP and contents of soluble solid, vitamin C and carotenoid. DIMFⅠ25FⅡ50FⅢ75 had the highest total sugar content and the lowest titratable acid content. Based on the comprehensive scoring method, DIMFⅠ50FⅡ75FⅢ25 achieved the optimum score in terms of fruit yield and water–fertilizer use efficiency, while FIFⅠ25FⅡ75FⅢ50 was optimum for fruit quality. Further, the TOPSIS method indicated DIMFⅠ50FⅡ75FⅢ25 had the optimal comprehensive benefit. To obtain high yield, quality and water–fertilizer use efficiency, the recommended water and fertilizer scheduling was irrigation with 75% ETc and fertilization with 50, 75 and 25 kg ha−1 at the flowering, fruit expansion and fruit ripening stages, respectively. The research results provided a scientific reference for identified optimum combination irrigation and fertilizer in the xerothermic environment of southwest China.

Oceanic strike-slip faults represent active fluid conduits in the abyssal sub-seafloor

Abstract We present pore-fluid geochemistry and heat-flow data along the SWIM1 fault in the Horseshoe Abyssal Plain (northeastern Atlantic Ocean). The SWIM1 fault is part of the transcurrent plate boundary between Africa and Eurasia and cuts through as much as 5-km-thick sediments overlying >140 Ma oceanic lithosphere. In a number of places, restraining segments (as long as 15 km) of the SWIM1 fault generate anticlines (positive flower structures) that protrude as ∼100-m-high hills above the abyssal plain. Heat flow and gradients of dissolved constituents in pore water are enhanced at these seafloor highs. Transport-reaction modeling confirms that slow advection of deep-seated fluids, depleted in Mg and enriched in Sr and CH4, can explain the observations. The geochemical signature is similar to the one observed at deep-sea mud volcanoes located eastward on the SWIM1 fault. The upward-migrating fluids have interacted with carbonate rocks at maximum 5 km depth, which represent the oldest sedimentary unit on top of the basement. We argue that deep-rooted fluids can generally be mobilized and transported upward along flower structures that formed in restraining-bend segments of long strike-slip faults. Such tectonic settings represent largely unrecognized corridors for mass exchange between lithosphere and ocean.

ZIF-67/GNs derived Co3O4/GNs multilayer flower and porous structure as an efficient electromagnetic wave absorbing material for excellent absorbing properties

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have a strong ability to consume electromagnetic (EM) wave due to their rich porous structure and large specific surface area. In this work, multi-layer ZIF-67/graphite nanosheets (ZIF-67/GNs) were successfully obtained through uniform stirring and aging process. Co3O4/GNs composites with layered structures and porous structures were obtained by calcining at different temperatures. Obviously, the calcination temperature has a significant effect on the EM absorption performance. Dielectric loss, magnetic loss, and good impedance matching make a significant contribution to enhancing EM wave absorption capacity of Co3O4/GNs composites. When the calcination temperature is 350 ° C, the composites show the best EM wave absorption performance, the RLmin value is −52.46 dB with 3.4 mm. It is worth noting that the Co3O4/GNs composites can be expected to have strong absorption intensity, and the selectable bandwidth width will ensure that it is an attractive EM wave absorbing material.

Manifestation of “flower structures” in geophysical models of the Central Tien Shan

Based on the analysis of deep geophysical (geoelectric and seismic) models of the Central Tien Shan, structures with the morphology resembling the crown of palm trees or the shape of a flower were identified. Geoelectric models are considered along a series of regional profiles (75º, 76º, 76º 30’). The length of the profiles intersecting all the main tectonic structures of the Tien Shan ranges from 75 to 250 km. Particular attention was paid to those zones of concentrated deformation, where the tectonic regime combines the conditions of shear and lateral compression (transpression zones). The structure of the collisional - accretionary wedge of the Atbashi zone in the distribution of electrical and velocity characteristics of the geological section is considered. Geoelectric models plotted along a series of regional profiles identify areas of increased electrical conductivity and show “flower structures”. The integral picture of the distribution and morphology of zones of increased electrical conductivity in the segments of the Earth’s crust of the Central Tien Shan may reflect a discretely localized manifestation of palm tree structures due to the evolution of transpressive suture zones during the Hercynian and Alpine tectogenesis.

Promoting effect of cellulose-based carbon dots at different concentrations on multifunctional photocatalytic degradation of dyes by ZnO

In this work, a novel cellulose based fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) doped ZnO composite, ZnO/CDs-x (x = 10, 20, 30, 40), was developed as a photocatalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of four dyes. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), and transient photocurrent measurements were carried out to study the effects of different concentrations of CDs on the morphology and photocatalytic properties of ZnO/CDs−x (x = 10, 20, 30, 40) composites. When the concentration of CDs increased, the structure of ZnO/CDs−x (x = 10, 20, 30, 40) changed from a peony like structure (x = 10, 20) to a hexagonal prism like structure (x = 30, 40) and assembled into a flower like structure. Flower like ZnO/CDs-20 showed the best photocatalytic performance and good durability under UV light, and three types of excitation effects were observed: mixed light > sunlight > visible light. It was found that the addition of CDs with a concentration of 20 mL in ZnO can significantly enhance the photoabsorption and the separation of photogenerated carriers, which is beneficial to improve the photocatalytic performance.

Effect of aspect ratio of c-axis oriented ZnO nanorods on photoelectrochemical performance and photoconversion efficiency

In recent times, the field of dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC) has made great strides; but has yet to achieve high efficiency with existing photoanode material.To achieve this goal, materials are required that have structural superiority.Tuning the morphology of metal oxide nanomaterials has become one of the most emerging techniques to improve the performance of the photoanode for dye sensitised solar cells (DSSC) application. The diverse morphologies of ZnO based photoanode allow achieving superior photoconversion efficiency in DSSC. Thus, the present study reports the synthesis of ZnO nanorods using microwave technique with various aspect ratios and its utilisation as photoanode for DSSC by changing the microwave power alone. More importantly, the microwave synthesis route has advantages over the conventional synthesis methods in terms of duration of the reaction and uniformity of the nanostructures. The structural and morphological analysis of the samples confirms the formation of nanorods with a preferential growth along the c-axis, which is further assembled to form a flower like structure. Lower microwave irradiation favours the formation of nanorods with a higher aspect ratio due to the variation in axial and lateral growth of ZnO. Among all the samples, the ZnO nanorod with the highest aspect ratio exhibits improved photoconversion efficiency compared to the remaining samples. The photoconversion efficiency of the ZnO photoanode with the highest aspect ratio was found to be 2.5 times greater than that of the lowest aspect ratio. This is explained further based on detailed physicochemical and photoelectrochemical (PEC) analyses, which helps establish the correlation between the charge carrier dynamics and the dye adsorption capacity of the optimal photoanode.

IS THE FLOWER OF PULASAN (NEPHELIUM RAMBOUTAN-AKE) A PROTOGYNY OR PROTANDRY?

Pulasan is an androdioecious plant that has both male and hermaphrodite flowers on separate plants. The objectives of this study were to obtain data about the anatomical structure of pulasan flower and to investigate whether the pistil and the stamens of pulasan flower reach maturity at different times. The anatomical observation was done on compound flowers taken from three male trees and three hermaphrodite trees. Two compound flowers that still in buds, about to bloom and fully bloom were picked from each tree. Flowers were observed in a cross and longitudinal section. The results showed that the sepals of pulasan flower comprised of the uniseriate epidermis and multilayered polyhedral parenchymal cells. Stamen development started from the anther followed by the formation of the filament. The pollen of hermaphrodite pulasan flowers reached maturation earlier than the pistil. The pistil development started from the expansion of meristem cells in the center of the flower and ends with the warp of the stigma.

Combination Breeding and Marker-Assisted Selection to Develop Late Blight Resistant Potato Cultivars

(1) Background: Although resistance to pathogens and pests has been researched in many potato cultivars and breeding lines with DNA markers, there is scarce evidence as to the efficiency of the marker-assisted selection (MAS) for these traits when applied at the early stages of breeding. A goal of this study was to estimate the potential of affordable DNA markers to track resistance genes that are effective against the pathogen Phytophthora infestans (Rpi genes), as a practical breeding tool on a progeny of 68 clones derived from a cross between the cultivar Sudarynya and the hybrid 13/11-09. (2) Methods: this population was studied for four years to elucidate the distribution of late blight (LB) resistance and other agronomical desirable or simple to phenotype traits such as tuber and flower pigmentation, yield capacity and structure. LB resistance was phenotypically evaluated following natural and artificial infection and the presence/absence of nine Rpi genes was assessed with 11 sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. To validate this analysis, the profile of Rpi genes in the 13/11-09 parent was established using diagnostic resistance gene enrichment sequencing (dRenSeq) as a gold standard. (3) Results: at the early stages of a breeding program, when screening the segregation of F1 offspring, MAS can halve the workload and selected SCAR markers for Rpi genes provide useful tools.

Promoting virus-induced gene silencing of pepper genes by a heterologous viral silencing suppressor.

Pepper is an important vegetable cultivated worldwide. Pepper fruits accumulate unique metabolites, capsanthin and capsaicin, which are important raw materials for natural pigment and medicine. Pepper plants are rich in genetic diversity and are attractive subjects for fruit developmental studies. The release of pepper reference genomes provided key genetic information for dissecting function of pepper genes underlying various interesting phenotypes (Kim et al., 2014; Qin et al., 2014). However, due to the difficulty in transformation, dissecting genetic mechanisms in pepper remained technically challenging.

Modelling of faults in LoopStructural 1.0

Abstract. Without properly accounting for both fault kinematics and observations of a faulted surface, it is challenging to create 3D geological models of faulted geological units. Geometries where multiple faults interact, where the faulted surface geometry significantly deviate from a flat plane and where the geological interfaces are poorly characterised by sparse datasets are particular challenges. There are two existing approaches for incorporating faults into geological surface modelling. One approach incorporates the fault displacement into the surface description but does not incorporate fault kinematics and in most cases will produce geologically unexpected results such as shrinking intrusions, fold hinges without offset and layer thickness growth in flat oblique faults. The second approach builds a continuous surface without faulting and then applies a kinematic fault operator to the continuous surface to create the displacement. Both approaches have their strengths; however, neither approach can capture the interaction of faults within complicated fault networks, e.g. fault duplexes, flower structures and listric faults because they either (1) impose an incorrect (not defined by data) fault slip direction or (2) require an over-sampled dataset that describes the faulted surface location. In this study, we integrate the fault kinematics into the implicit surface, by using the fault kinematics to restore observations, and the model domain prior to interpolating the faulted surface. This new approach can build models that are consistent with observations of the faulted surface and fault kinematics. Integrating fault kinematics directly into the implicit surface description allows for complexly faulted stratigraphy and fault–fault interactions to be modelled. Our approach shows significant improvement in capturing faulted surface geometries, especially where the intersection angle between the faulted surface and the fault surface varies (e.g. intrusions, fold series) and when modelling interacting faults (fault duplex).

Effects of the availability of floral resources and neighboring plants on nectar robbery in a specialized pollination system.

Many plants pollinated by nectar-foraging animals have to maintain a balance between legitimate visitor attraction strategies and mechanisms that minimize illegitimate visits. This study investigated how floral display and neighboring species composition influences nectar robbing by hummingbirds in the tropical ornithophilous herb Heliconia spathocircinata. We tested the role of inflorescence display, flower abundance, and neighboring species in the reduction of nectar robbing in H. spathocircinata. Our results indicate that nectar robbing hummingbird activity was higher in moderately large inflorescence displays and that the frequency of nectar robbing in H. spathocircinata decreases with increased flower abundance and the presence of neighboring plant species. Neighboring non-ornithophilous plants decreased the frequency of nectar robbing in H. spathocircinata flowers to a greater extent than ornithophilous ones. These results suggest that nectar robbing hummingbirds are attracted to similar conditions that attract legitimate visitors and that spatial aggregation and mixed-species displays may represent a mechanism to dilute nectar robbing effects at an individual level.

A grape breeding programme using different Vitis species

AbstractIntensive breeding programmes have been carried out to obtain high‐quality seedless grape cultivars. Seedless grape cultivars were used as pollinizer parents, but the number of hybrid seeds and the viability of the seed obtained could differ greatly. In this study, carried out over 3 years, the results obtained from crossing with some pollinizer cultivars belonging to different Vitis species were compared. Maternal cultivars that do not need emasculation (male sterile) and emasculated cultivars were also compared. Evaluations were based on the total number of hybrid seeds and the proportion of viable seeds. In addition, the effects of various treatments on the rates of germination of the hybrid seed were compared. Although the female parents (with female flower structure) produced more seed than did hermaphrodite mothers in 2019, different results were obtained in cross‐breeding studies in 2018 and 2020. Cold stratification was very effective in increasing germination by breaking dormancy of the hybrid seed. In addition, after treatment of cold moist storage (cold stratification), keeping the seed in distilled water overnight before planting increased germination. Although large numbers of seeds were produced by the genotype 86/1 and the cultivar ‘Beyaz Çavuş’, both of which do not require emasculation, many of these seeds did not germinate. Crosses with the cultivar ‘Red Globe’ as the maternal parent produced large numbers of viable seeds and high germination rates.

Supporting wild pollinators in agricultural landscapes through targeted legume mixtures

Insect-pollinated legumes are rich in plant-based proteins making them a vital constituent of sustainable healthy diets for people and livestock. Furthermore, they deliver or support a range of ecosystem services that underpin agricultural production and their prevalence in agricultural landscapes is likely to increase. Under typical implementation and management, the value of legumes to pollinators has, however, been questioned. Through exploring a range of legume crops, grown as monocultures and mixtures, this study aims to identify multifunctional legume cropping systems that optimise forage availability for a diversity of wild pollinators whilst delivering a wide range of agronomic and environmental benefits. This study innovatively explores legume mixtures concurrently with monocultures of the component species using replicated small-plot field trials established in two geographical locations. Observational plots assessed the richness and abundance of floral resources, and wild pollinators (i.e. bumblebees and hoverflies) throughout the peak flowering period. Densely flowering, highly profitable legumes (e.g. Trifolium incarnatum and Trifolium mixes) supported abundant and rich pollinator assemblages. The functional makeup of floral visitors was strongly influenced by flower structure and hoverflies, with their shorter proboscises, were largely constrained to legumes with shallower corolla and open weed species. Floral richness was not a key driver of pollinator assemblages; however, clear intra-specific differences were observed in flowering phenology. Combining functionally distinct legumes with respect to flower structure and phenology, will support a wider suite of pollinating insects and help stabilise the temporal availability of forage. For highly competitive legumes (e.g. Vicia faba and Vicia sativa), planting in discrete patches is recommended to reduce the risk of less competitive species failing in mixtures. Legumes can provide valuable forage for pollinators; however, they fail to meet all resource requirements. They should therefore be used in combination with agri-environmental measures targeted to promote early-season forage (e.g. hedgerows and farm woodlands), open flowers for hoverflies, saprophytic hoverfly larval resources (e.g. ditches and ponds) and nesting habitats (e.g. undisturbed field margins).

Tectonic geomorphology assessment of neotectonics in the north of Damghan Region, Alborz Mountain Belt, Northern Iran

In mountain ranges, recent and active tectonics can be viewed as the main factor contributing to rock uplift, their present-day topography being the result of the competition between tectonic and erosional processes. The region coincides with three faults which show signs of activity during the late Quaternary period: The Astaneh, North Damghan, and Damghan faults, which collectively make up the SW section of the left‐lateral Shahrud fault system. In this study we have analyzed morphotectonic and neotectonic indices to evaluate tectonic activity of the study area.Tectonic geomorphological indices that are used in this study are drainage basin based (drainage basin asymmetry factor (Af), Hypsometric integral (Hi)) and mountain front based (mountain-front sinuosity (Smf), valley floor width – valley height ratio (Vf)) which can be useful tools for studying active tectonics. The study area includes pop-up structures that are formed during inverse tectonic activities of Alborz mountain belt. Strike-slip faults and flower structures suggest transpressional tectonic regime at eastern part of Alborz.

Expression and Functional Analyses of Nymphaea caerulea MADS-Box Genes Contribute to Clarify the Complex Flower Patterning of Water Lilies.

Nymphaeaceae are early diverging angiosperms with large flowers characterized by showy petals and stamens not clearly whorled but presenting a gradual morphological transition from the outer elements to the inner stamens. Such flower structure makes these plant species relevant for studying flower evolution. MADS-domain transcription factors are crucial components of the molecular network that controls flower development. We therefore isolated and characterized MADS-box genes from the water lily Nymphaea caerulea. RNA-seq experiments on floral buds have been performed to obtain the transcript sequences of floral organ identity MADS-box genes. Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyses confirmed their belonging to specific MADS-box gene subfamilies. Their expression was quantified by RT-qPCR in all floral organs at two stages of development. Protein interactions among these transcription factors were investigated by yeast-two-hybrid assays. We found especially interesting the involvement of two different AGAMOUS-like genes (NycAG1 and NycAG2) in the water lily floral components. They were therefore functionally characterized by complementing Arabidopsis ag and shp1 shp2 mutants. The expression analysis of MADS-box genes across flower development in N. caerulea described a complex scenario made of numerous genes in numerous floral components. Their expression profiles in some cases were in line with what was expected from the ABC model of flower development and its extensions, while in other cases presented new and interesting gene expression patterns, as for instance the involvement of NycAGL6 and NycFL. Although sharing a high level of sequence similarity, the two AGAMOUS-like genes NycAG1 and NycAG2 could have undergone subfunctionalization or neofunctionalization, as only one of them could partially restore the euAG function in Arabidopsis ag-3 mutants. The hereby illustrated N. caerulea MADS-box gene expression pattern might mirror the morphological transition from the outer to the inner floral organs, and the presence of transition organs such as the petaloid stamens. This study is intended to broaden knowledge on the role and evolution of floral organ identity genes and the genetic mechanisms causing biodiversity in angiosperm flowers.