Advances in Research on the Regulation of Floral Development by -like Genes

()-like genes belong to the TCP transcription factor family and play important roles associated with flower development. The -like genes in the CYC1, CYC2, and CYC3 clades resulted from gene duplication events. The CYC2 clade includes the largest number of members that are crucial regulators of floral symmetry. To date, studies on -like genes have mainly focused on plants with actinomorphic and zygomorphic flowers, including , , , and species and the effects of -like gene duplication events and diverse spatiotemporal expression patterns on flower development. The -like genes generally affect petal morphological characteristics and stamen development, as well as stem and leaf growth, flower differentiation and development, and branching in most angiosperms. As the relevant research scope has expanded, studies have increasingly focused on the molecular mechanisms regulating -like genes with different functions related to flower development and the phylogenetic relationships among these genes. We summarize the status of research on the -like genes in angiosperms, such as the limited research conducted on CYC1 and CYC3 clade members, the necessity to functionally characterize the -like genes in more plant groups, the need for investigation of the regulatory elements upstream of -like genes, and exploration of the phylogenetic relationships and expression of -like genes with new techniques and methods. This review provides theoretical guidance and ideas for future research on -like genes.