Abstract
Nicotiana benthamiana is a model plant species widely used in molecular biology and biotechnology; however, it has historically lacked a detailed morphological framework for floral development. Here, we present a comprehensive characterization of N. benthamiana flower ontogeny, defining 14 floral stages from floral meristem initiation to anthesis. Using stereo- and scanning electron microscopy, we document the acropetal sequence of floral organ initiation and differentiation across four concentric whorls. Each stage is marked by distinct morphological features, starting with the domed floral meristem (Stage 1). Sepal primordia emerge first (Stage 2), followed by petal and stamen primordia (Stages 4 and 5), and two carpel primordia appear by Stage 6 to initiate gynoecium development. Through mid-development (Stages 6–8), petals and stamens expand within an enclosing calyx, while carpels remain unfused. By Stage 9, carpel fusion forms a single ovary with a differentiating stigma. Subsequent stages feature rapid elongation of petals and stamens, and partial calyx separation (Stages 11–12), allowing emergence of the corolla tube and style. Anthesis occurs at Stage 14, when the corolla lobes fully spread, exposing the mature reproductive organs. In parallel, we describe the coordinated development of male and female gametophytes, and further characterize post-anthesis fruit development, from fruit set through capsule maturation and dehiscence, thus completing the full reproductive cycle. This ontogenetic framework serves as a foundational reference for genetic and comparative development studies on flower organogenesis, reinforcing N. benthamiana as a versatile model system for Solanaceae research and a valuable tool for translational crop improvement. • Nicotiana benthamiana flower development is defined through 14 sequential stages • Floral ontogeny spans from the onset of the floral meristem to anthesis • Coordinated development of male and female gametophytes is studied • Fruit development is described from set to capsule maturation and dehiscence • N. benthamiana floral stages offers a framework for Solanaceae translational research
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Fourteen floral stages extend from meristem initiation to anthesis.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamiana
Nicotiana benthamianat0 - Outcome
- floral stages from floral meristem initiation to anthesise0
- Value
- 14e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“defining 14 floral stages from floral meristem initiation to anthesis.”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
Floral organs initiate and differentiate acropetally across four whorls.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamianaNicotiana benthamianat0
- Outcome
- acropetal sequence of floral organ initiation and differentiatione0
- Value
- four concentric whorlse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the acropetal sequence of floral organ initiation and differentiation across four concentric whorls.”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
Sepal primordia emerge at Stage 2.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamianaNicotiana benthamianat0
- Outcome
- Sepal primordia emerge firste0
- Value
- Stage 2e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Sepal primordia emerge first (Stage 2)”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
Petal and stamen primordia emerge at Stages 4 and 5.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamianaNicotiana benthamianat0
- Outcome
- petal and stamen primordiae0
- Value
- Stages 4 and 5e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“followed by petal and stamen primordia (Stages 4 and 5)”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
Two carpel primordia appear by Stage 6.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamianaNicotiana benthamianat0
- Outcome
- two carpel primordia appeare0
- Value
- Stage 6e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“two carpel primordia appear by Stage 6 to initiate gynoecium development.”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
Petals and stamens expand while carpels remain unfused through Stages 6–8.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamianaNicotiana benthamianat0
- Outcome
- petals and stamens expand within an enclosing calyx, while carpels remain unfusede0
- Value
- Stages 6–8e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Through mid-development (Stages 6–8), petals and stamens expand within an enclosing calyx, while carpels remain unfused.”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
Carpel fusion forms one ovary by Stage 9.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamianaNicotiana benthamianat0
- Outcome
- carpel fusion forms a single ovary with a differentiating stigmae0
- Value
- Stage 9e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“By Stage 9, carpel fusion forms a single ovary with a differentiating stigma.”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
Petals and stamens elongate and calyx partly separates at Stages 11–12.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamianaNicotiana benthamianat0
- Outcome
- rapid elongation of petals and stamens, and partial calyx separatione0
- Value
- Stages 11–12e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Subsequent stages feature rapid elongation of petals and stamens, and partial calyx separation (Stages 11–12)”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
Anthesis occurs at Stage 14 when corolla lobes spread.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamianaNicotiana benthamianat0
- Outcome
- Anthesis occurse0
- Value
- Stage 14e0
- Qualifier
- corolla lobes fully spreade0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Anthesis occurs at Stage 14, when the corolla lobes fully spread, exposing the mature reproductive organs.”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
Male and female gametophytes develop in coordination.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamianaNicotiana benthamianat0
- Outcome
- coordinated development of male and female gametophytese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the coordinated development of male and female gametophytes”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
Fruit develops from set through capsule maturation and dehiscence.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamianaNicotiana benthamianat0
- Outcome
- fruit development, from fruit set through capsule maturation and dehiscencee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“post-anthesis fruit development, from fruit set through capsule maturation and dehiscence”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”