Class B floral homeotic genes and the diversification of the orchid flower

In terms of species diversity orchids represent the most successful family of flowering plants. Key to the successful radiation of the orchids has been their elaborate flower structure facilitating outcrossing. Several interesting trends in the evolution of orchid flowers affect stamens and petals. In core eudicots class B floral homeotic genes, encoding DEF- and GLO-like MADS-domain proteins, are involved in controlling the development of both petals and stamens. We are currently testing the hypothesis that gene duplications followed by sub- and neofunctionalization events in the DEF- and GLO-like genes played important roles in the evolution of the diversity of floral structures found within the orchid family.

Grant: Postdoctoral fellowship by the VolkswagenStiftung to Mariana Mondrágon-Palomino.

Suggested reading:

Mondragon-Palomino, M,, and Theißen G.(2009)
Why are orchid flowers so diverse? Reduction of evolutionary constraints by paralogues of class B floral homeotic genes.
Annals of Botany 2009 (Epub ahead of print)

Mondragon-Palomino, M,, and Theißen G.(2008)
MADS about the evolution of orchid flowers
Trends in Plant Sciences 13 (2), 51-59