The FLORAL MERISTEM UNDETERMINATION mutation in Papaver somniferum: Spontaneous phenotypic variation in ontogeny

A new morphogenetic mutation of the shoot, FLORAL MERISTEM UNDETERMINATION, was found in Papaver somniferum L. with monocarpic shoot. The expression of the DFM (determination of floral meristem) gene, which limits the proliferative activity of stem cells in the floral meristem, was affected. The mutation displayed spontaneous phenotypic instability in ontogeny, variation in the mutant character expression on different flowers of the same plant in the same genotypic environment. The mutation phenotype varied from no expression or formation of individual phyllomes in the center of the primary ovary to formation of a new flower and a new capsule with viable seeds.