Floral homeotic genes were recruited from homologous MADS-box genes preexisting in the common ancestor of ferns and seed plants.

ABSTRACT: Flowers sensu lato are short, specialized axes bearing closely aggregated sporophylls. They are typical for seed plants (spermatophytes) and are prominent in flowering plants sensu stricto (angiosperms), where they often comprise an attractive perianth. There is evidence that spermatophytes evolved from gymnosperm-like plants with a fern-like mode of reproduction called progymnosperms. It seems plausible, therefore, that the stamens/carpels and pollen sacs/nucelli of spermatophytes are homologous to fern sporophylls and sporangia, respectively. However, the exact mode and molecular basis of early seed and flower evolution is not yet known. Comparing flower developmental control genes to their homologs from lower plants that do not flower may help to clarify the issue. We have isolated and

SUBMITTER: Munster T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC20102 | biostudies-literature | 1997 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature