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The editorial in "Frontiers in Plant Science" discusses the significance of proanthocyanidins (PAs) and isoflavonoids in plants, highlighting their roles in plant defense, antioxidant properties, and nutritional quality of foods. Recent research has advanced our understanding of the biosynthesis of PAs and isoflavonoids, shedding light on enzyme structures, regulatory pathways, and novel mechanisms governing their formation. The editorial also includes studies on isoflavonoid biosynthesis in legumes, flavonoids in citrus fruits, anthocyanins in mung beans, and the pigmentation of naturally colored cotton varieties. Future research directions focus on exploring the spatial distribution and dynamics of PA and isoflavonoid biosynthesis, as well as understanding the interplay between environmental factors and metabolic processes to improve agricultural traits and nutritional quality. [Extracted from the article]

Despite increasing interest in the molecular mechanisms of floral diversity, few studies have investigated the developmental and genetic bases of petaloid bracts. This study examined morphological patterns of bract initiation and expression patterns of B-class MADS-box genes in bracts of several Cornus species. We suggest that petaloid bracts in this genus may not share a single evolutionary origin., Developmental pathways of bracts and spatiotemporal expression of B-class genes in bracts and flowers were examined for four closely related dogwood species., Divergent morphological progressions and gene expression patterns were found in the two sister lineages with petaloid bracts, represented by Cornus florida and Cornus canadensis. Phylogeny-based analysis identified developmental and gene expression changes that are correlated with the evolution of petaloid bracts in C. florida and C. canadensis., Our data support the existence of independent evolutionary origins of petaloid bracts in C. canadensis and C. florida. Additionally, we suggest that functional transference within B-class gene families may have contributed to the origin of bract petaloidy in C. florida. However, the underlying mechanisms of petaloid bract development likely differ between C. florida and C. canadensis. In the future this hypothesis can be tested by functional analyses of Cornus B-class genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]