[Evolution and development of the flower]

The appearance of the angiosperm flower has been an important morphological innovation in plant evolution and is thought to be, at least in part, responsible for the evolutionary success of flowering plants. Through studying and comparing the molecular basis of flower development in different model species, we can gain insights into the diversification of developmental networks that underlie the vast array of angiosperm floral morphologies. Floral development is controlled by several genes among which MADS-box genes play a crucial role as homeotic genes. Indeed, the evolution of the MADS-box transcription factor family appears to have played a pivotal role in the development of flower diversity.