Characterization of <i>AGAMOUS</i> Ortholog and Promoter from the <i>Ilex verticillata</i> (Aquifoliaceae)

<i>Arabidopsis AGAMOUS (AG)</i> plays a crucial role in specifying stamen and carpel identities, floral meristem identity determination, and repression of the A-function. <i>Ilex verticillata</i> (Aquifoliaceae) is a dioecious shrub, whereby an individual plant has either mal...

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Main Authors: Jiayi Li, Yalan Su, Xiangjian Chen, Zhixiong Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Horticulturae
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/10/1058
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author Jiayi Li
Yalan Su
Xiangjian Chen
Zhixiong Liu
author_facet Jiayi Li
Yalan Su
Xiangjian Chen
Zhixiong Liu
author_sort Jiayi Li
collection DOAJ
description <i>Arabidopsis AGAMOUS (AG)</i> plays a crucial role in specifying stamen and carpel identities, floral meristem identity determination, and repression of the A-function. <i>Ilex verticillata</i> (Aquifoliaceae) is a dioecious shrub, whereby an individual plant has either male or female flowers with vestigial organs of the opposite sex. The molecular mechanism of male and female organ development in <i>I. verticillata</i> remains unknown. In order to identify the possible roles of <i>AG</i>-like genes in regulating floral development in <i>I. verticillata</i>, <i>AG</i> ortholog (<i>IlveAG</i>) and its promoter (<i>pIlveAG)</i> from the male and female flowers of <i>I. verticillata</i> were separately isolated. <i>IlveAG</i> is highly expressed in stamens, pistils, and sepals of male and female flowers. Moreover, obvious GUS staining was observed in the inflorescence and sepals, stamens, and pistils of mature flowers in <i>pIlveAG::GUS Arabidopsis</i>. The 35S::<i>IlveAG Arabidopsis</i> showed obviously early flowering. Moreover, <i>IlveAG</i> could substitute for endogenous <i>AG</i> to rescue the stamen and pistil in the <i>Arabidopsis ag-1</i> mutant. In addition, expression of <i>IlveAG</i> can inhibit the development of sepals and petals (two outer whorls of floral organs) in wild-type and <i>ag-1 Arabidopsis</i>. Our findings suggest that <i>IlveAG</i> has a conservative C-function and plays key roles in determination of reproductive floral organs (stamen and carpel) identity and meristem determinacy. Our results provide more details to understand the role of <i>AG</i> orthologs in the development of male and female flowers in woody plants.
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spelling doaj-art-facdb2a2f7a94ab5b69364379e4520922025-08-20T02:11:00ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242024-10-011010105810.3390/horticulturae10101058Characterization of <i>AGAMOUS</i> Ortholog and Promoter from the <i>Ilex verticillata</i> (Aquifoliaceae)Jiayi Li0Yalan Su1Xiangjian Chen2Zhixiong Liu3College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China<i>Arabidopsis AGAMOUS (AG)</i> plays a crucial role in specifying stamen and carpel identities, floral meristem identity determination, and repression of the A-function. <i>Ilex verticillata</i> (Aquifoliaceae) is a dioecious shrub, whereby an individual plant has either male or female flowers with vestigial organs of the opposite sex. The molecular mechanism of male and female organ development in <i>I. verticillata</i> remains unknown. In order to identify the possible roles of <i>AG</i>-like genes in regulating floral development in <i>I. verticillata</i>, <i>AG</i> ortholog (<i>IlveAG</i>) and its promoter (<i>pIlveAG)</i> from the male and female flowers of <i>I. verticillata</i> were separately isolated. <i>IlveAG</i> is highly expressed in stamens, pistils, and sepals of male and female flowers. Moreover, obvious GUS staining was observed in the inflorescence and sepals, stamens, and pistils of mature flowers in <i>pIlveAG::GUS Arabidopsis</i>. The 35S::<i>IlveAG Arabidopsis</i> showed obviously early flowering. Moreover, <i>IlveAG</i> could substitute for endogenous <i>AG</i> to rescue the stamen and pistil in the <i>Arabidopsis ag-1</i> mutant. In addition, expression of <i>IlveAG</i> can inhibit the development of sepals and petals (two outer whorls of floral organs) in wild-type and <i>ag-1 Arabidopsis</i>. Our findings suggest that <i>IlveAG</i> has a conservative C-function and plays key roles in determination of reproductive floral organs (stamen and carpel) identity and meristem determinacy. Our results provide more details to understand the role of <i>AG</i> orthologs in the development of male and female flowers in woody plants.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/10/1058<i>AGAMOUS</i><i>Ilex verticillata</i>flower development
spellingShingle Jiayi Li
Yalan Su
Xiangjian Chen
Zhixiong Liu
Characterization of <i>AGAMOUS</i> Ortholog and Promoter from the <i>Ilex verticillata</i> (Aquifoliaceae)
Horticulturae
<i>AGAMOUS</i>
<i>Ilex verticillata</i>
flower development
title Characterization of <i>AGAMOUS</i> Ortholog and Promoter from the <i>Ilex verticillata</i> (Aquifoliaceae)
title_full Characterization of <i>AGAMOUS</i> Ortholog and Promoter from the <i>Ilex verticillata</i> (Aquifoliaceae)
title_fullStr Characterization of <i>AGAMOUS</i> Ortholog and Promoter from the <i>Ilex verticillata</i> (Aquifoliaceae)
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of <i>AGAMOUS</i> Ortholog and Promoter from the <i>Ilex verticillata</i> (Aquifoliaceae)
title_short Characterization of <i>AGAMOUS</i> Ortholog and Promoter from the <i>Ilex verticillata</i> (Aquifoliaceae)
title_sort characterization of i agamous i ortholog and promoter from the i ilex verticillata i aquifoliaceae
topic <i>AGAMOUS</i>
<i>Ilex verticillata</i>
flower development
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/10/1058
work_keys_str_mv AT jiayili characterizationofiagamousiorthologandpromoterfromtheiilexverticillataiaquifoliaceae
AT yalansu characterizationofiagamousiorthologandpromoterfromtheiilexverticillataiaquifoliaceae
AT xiangjianchen characterizationofiagamousiorthologandpromoterfromtheiilexverticillataiaquifoliaceae
AT zhixiongliu characterizationofiagamousiorthologandpromoterfromtheiilexverticillataiaquifoliaceae