The Making of a Compound Inflorescence in Tomato and Related Nightshades

Lippman, Z. B., Cohen, O., Alvarez, J. P., Abu-Abied, M., Pekker, I., Paran, I., Eshed, Y., Zamir, D. (November 2008) The Making of a Compound Inflorescence in Tomato and Related Nightshades. PLoS Biology, 6 (11). e288.

[thumbnail of Paper]
Preview
PDF (Paper)
Lippman PLoS Biology 2008.pdf - Published Version

Download (1MB) | Preview
URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19018664
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060288

Abstract

Variation in the branching of plant inflorescences determines flower number and, consequently, reproductive success and crop yield. Nightshade (Solanaceae) species are models for a widespread, yet poorly understood, program of eudicot growth, where short side branches are initiated upon floral termination. This “sympodial” program produces the few-flowered tomato inflorescence, but the classical mutants compound inflorescence (s) and anantha (an) are highly branched, and s bears hundreds of flowers. Here we show that S and AN, which encode a homeobox transcription factor and an F-box protein, respectively, control inflorescence architecture by promoting successive stages in the progression of an inflorescence meristem to floral specification. S and AN are sequentially expressed during this gradual phase transition, and the loss of either gene delays flower formation, resulting in additional branching. Independently arisen alleles of s account for inflorescence variation among domesticated tomatoes, and an stimulates branching in pepper plants that normally have solitary flowers. Our results suggest that variation of Solanaceae inflorescences is modulated through temporal changes in the acquisition of floral fate, providing a flexible evolutionary mechanism to elaborate sympodial inflorescence shoots.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > tissues types and functions > inflorescence
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions
organism description > plant
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > tissues types and functions
organism description > plant > tomato
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Lippman lab
Depositing User: Matt Covey
Date: 1 November 2008
Date Deposited: 26 Feb 2013 17:21
Last Modified: 26 Feb 2013 17:21
PMCID: PMC2586368
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/27564

Actions (login required)

Administrator's edit/view item Administrator's edit/view item
CSHL HomeAbout CSHLResearchEducationNews & FeaturesCampus & Public EventsCareersGiving