Abstract
Plants undergo continuous growth thanks to meristems, specialized groups of pluripotent stem cells that remain undifferentiated throughout the plant's life. Meristem transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase heavily influences plant reproductive success and agricultural productivity. In tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.), FALSIFLORA ( FA ), the orthologue of the Arabidopsis LEAFY gene, promotes floral transition by specifying floral meristem identity and regulating the expression of genes responsible for floral organ identity and development. This study expanded the FA allelic series by combining the screening of an EMS mutant collection with overexpression, silencing and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing approaches, aimed to deepen the understanding of the functional role of FA during reproductive development. The phenotypic and molecular characterization of the FA allelic series revealed its multifaceted role in both early and late stages of floral ontogeny. Besides promoting floral transition and specifying floral meristem identity, FA also plays a role in inflorescence meristem maturation and termination, thereby regulating the inflorescence architecture. Furthermore, FA potentially exerts regulatory control over the expression of the AGAMOUS homolog ( TOMATO AGAMOUS1 , TAG1 ), which in turn may contribute to the deregulation of WUSCHEL ( SlWUS ) during floral development, underscoring its function in promoting carpel development and suppressing floral stem cell activity, thereby establishing floral determinacy. Our findings reveal for the first time the novel role of FA in the cessation of floral meristem activity in tomato, and demonstrate the value of mutant allelic series as powerful tools for elucidating gene functions and understanding the intricate molecular basis underlying biological processes. • FA acts in both early and late stages of the tomato reproductive phase. • FA amorph alleles develop indeterminate inflorescences with leaf-like organs. • FA hypomorphic alleles form flowers with homeotic changes and reduced organ number. • FA promotes floral and fruit determinacy by regulating TAG1 and SlWUS expression. • FA allelic series is a great tool for deciphering molecular basis of flower ontogeny.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
FA has roles in both early and late floral ontogeny.
Verbatim
e0“The phenotypic and molecular characterization of the FA allelic series revealed its multifaceted role in both early and late stages of floral ontogeny.”
Claim · model-written summary
FA promotes floral transition and floral meristem identity.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Besides promoting floral transition and specifying floral meristem identity, FA also plays a role in inflorescence meristem maturation and termination, thereby regulating the inflorescence architecture.”
Claim · model-written summary
FA contributes to inflorescence meristem maturation and termination and regulates architecture.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“FA also plays a role in inflorescence meristem maturation and termination, thereby regulating the inflorescence architecture.”
Claim · model-written summary
FA may regulate TAG1 expression, which may contribute to SlWUS deregulation.
- Gene
- FAe0
- Outcome
- expression of the AGAMOUS homolog ( TOMATO AGAMOUS1 , TAG1 )e0
- Qualifier
- may contribute to the deregulation of WUSCHEL ( SlWUS )e0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“FA potentially exerts regulatory control over the expression of the AGAMOUS homolog ( TOMATO AGAMOUS1 , TAG1 ), which in turn may contribute to the deregulation of WUSCHEL ( SlWUS ) during floral development”
Claim · model-written summary
FA amorph alleles yield indeterminate inflorescences with leaf-like organs.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“FA amorph alleles develop indeterminate inflorescences with leaf-like organs.”
Claim · model-written summary
FA hypomorphic alleles yield homeotic flowers with fewer organs.
- Material
- FA hypomorphic allelese0
- Outcome
- flowers with homeotic changes and reduced organ numbere0
- Direction
- reducede0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“FA hypomorphic alleles form flowers with homeotic changes and reduced organ number.”
Claim · model-written summary
The FA allelic series is useful for deciphering flower ontogeny.
- Outcome
- great tool for deciphering molecular basis of flower ontogenye0
Not reportedTaxonComparatorValue
Verbatim
e0“FA allelic series is a great tool for deciphering molecular basis of flower ontogeny.”