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Simple and Divided Leaves in Ferns: Exploring the Genetic Basis for Leaf Morphology Differences in the Genus Elaphoglossum (Dryopteridaceae).
- Source :
-
International journal of molecular sciences [Int J Mol Sci] 2020 Jul 22; Vol. 21 (15). Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Jul 22. - Publication Year :
- 2020
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Abstract
- Despite the implications leaves have for life, their origin and development remain debated. Analyses across ferns and seed plants are fundamental to address the conservation or independent origins of megaphyllous leaf developmental mechanisms. Class I KNOX expression studies have been used to understand leaf development and, in ferns, have only been conducted in species with divided leaves. We performed expression analyses of the C lass I KNOX and Histone H4 genes throughout the development of leaf primordia in two simple-leaved and one divided-leaved fern taxa. We found Class I KNOX are expressed (1) throughout young and early developing leaves of simple and divided-leaved ferns, (2) later into leaf development of divided-leaved species compared to simple-leaved species, and (3) at the leaf primordium apex and margins. H4 expression is similar in young leaf primordia of simple and divided leaves. Persistent Class I KNOX expression at the margins of divided leaf primordia compared with simple leaf primordia indicates that temporal and spatial patterns of Class I KNOX expression correlate with different fern leaf morphologies. However, our results also indicate that Class I KNOX expression alone is not sufficient to promote divided leaf development in ferns. Class I KNOX patterns of expression in fern leaves support the conservation of an independently recruited developmental mechanism for leaf dissection in megaphylls, the shoot-like nature of fern leaves compared with seed plant leaves, and the critical role marginal meristems play in fern leaf development.<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Subjects :
- Dryopteridaceae anatomy & histology
Dryopteridaceae genetics
Dryopteridaceae growth & development
Dryopteridaceae metabolism
Evolution, Molecular
Ferns anatomy & histology
Ferns growth & development
Ferns metabolism
Histones genetics
Homeodomain Proteins genetics
Meristem metabolism
Phylogeny
Plant Leaves genetics
Plant Leaves growth & development
Plant Leaves metabolism
Plant Proteins genetics
Ferns genetics
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant genetics
Histones metabolism
Homeodomain Proteins metabolism
Plant Leaves anatomy & histology
Plant Proteins metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1422-0067
- Volume :
- 21
- Issue :
- 15
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- International journal of molecular sciences
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 32707812
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21155180