Evolution of Petal Epidermal Micromorphology in Leguminosae and Its Use As a Marker of Petal Identity

Overview

Journal Ann Bot

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Biology

Date 2009 Oct 1

PMID 19789174

Citations 17

Authors

Isidro Ojeda

Javier Francisco-Ortega

Quentin C B Cronk

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Aims: The legume flower is highly variable in symmetry and differentiation of petal types. Most papilionoid flowers are zygomorphic with three types of petals: one dorsal, two lateral and two ventral petals. Mimosoids have radial flowers with reduced petals while caesalpinioids display a range from strongly zygomorphic to nearly radial symmetry. The aims are to characterize the petal micromorphology relative to flower morphology and evolution within the family and assess its use as a marker of petal identity (whether dorsal, lateral or ventral) as determined by the expression of developmental genes.

Methods: Petals were analysed using the scanning electron microscope and light microscope. A total of 175 species were studied representing 26 tribes and 89 genera in all three subfamilies of the Leguminosae.

Key Results: The papilionoids have the highest degree of variation of epidermal types along the dorsiventral axis within the flower. In Loteae and genistoids, in particular, it is common for each petal type to have a different major epidermal micromorphology. Papillose conical cells are mainly found on dorsal and lateral petals. Tabular rugose cells are mainly found on lateral petals and tabular flat cells are found only in ventral petals. Caesalpinioids lack strong micromorphological variation along this axis and usually have only a single major epidermal type within a flower, although the type maybe either tabular rugose cells, papillose conical cells or papillose knobby rugose cells, depending on the species.

Conclusions: Strong micromorphological variation between different petals in the flower is exclusive to the subfamily Papilionoideae. Both major and minor epidermal types can be used as micromorphological markers of petal identity, at least in papilionoids, and they are important characters of flower evolution in the whole family. The molecular developmental pathway between specific epidermal micromorphology and the expression of petal identity genes has yet to be established.

Citing Articles

Development of Flowers Buds and Mixed Buds in the Dichasial Inflorescence of Kom. (Geraniaceae).

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The diversity of elaborate petals in Isopyreae (Ranunculaceae): a special focus on nectary structure.

Zhu Q, Xue C, Sun L, Zhong X, Zhu X, Ren Y Protoplasma. 2022; 260(2):437-451.

PMID: 35760912 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-022-01787-6.

Conical petal epidermal cells, regulated by the MYB transcription factor MIXTA, have an ancient origin within the angiosperms.

Reed A, Rudall P, Brockington S, Glover B J Exp Bot. 2022; 73(16):5490-5502.

PMID: 35596728 PMC: 9467652. DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac223.

Floral nectaries and pseudonectaries in Eranthis (Ranunculaceae): petal development, micromorphology, structure and ultrastructure.

Huang Z, Zhang X Protoplasma. 2022; 259(5):1283-1300.

PMID: 35066725 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-022-01738-1.

Sculpting the surface: Structural patterning of plant epidermis.

Riglet L, Gatti S, Moyroud E iScience. 2021; 24(11):103346.

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