More than 200 years ago, Goethe proposed that each of the distinct flower organs represents a modified leaf [1]. Support for this hypothesis has come from genetic studies, which have identified genes required for flower organ identity. These genes have been incorporated into the widely accepted ABC model of flower organ identity, a model that appears generally applicable to distantly related eu...

In order to establish a reference for analysis of the function of auxin and the auxin biosynthesis regulators SHORT INTERNODE/STYLISH (SHI/STY) during Physcomitrella patens reproductive development, we have described male (antheridial) and female(archegonial) development in detail, including temporal and positional information of organ initiation. This has allowed us to define discrete stages o...

An open question in developmental biology is how groups of dividing cells can generate specific numbers of segments or organs. We describe the phenotypic effects of mutations in PERIANTHIA, a gene specifically required for floral organ patterning in Arabidopsis thaliana. Most wild-type Arabidopsis flowers have 4 sepals, 4 petals, 6 stamens, and 2 carpels. Flowers of perianthia mutant plants mos...

Introduction: Vinca rosea, an important medicinal plant, is well-known for its anticancer properties especially against breast cancer. In this study, we compared the cytotoxic effects of methanolic extracts of the vegetative (young and old leaves) and reproductive (flowers) organs of this plant on a human squamous cell carcinoma using MTT assay. Methods: The cytotoxic effects of Vinca rosea'...

The presence of anthocyanins in flowers and fruits is frequently attributed to attracting pollinators and dispersers. In vegetative organs, anthocyanins and other non-pigmented flavonoids such as flavones and flavonols may serve protective functions against UV radiation, cold, heat, drought, salinity, pathogens, and herbivores; thus, these compounds are usually produced as a plastic response to...

Metastatic vesical tumors are rare, and constitute approximately 1% of all neoplasias affecting this organ. The authors report the case of a 63-year old woman with vesical metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma. Patient presented signs of cachexia and complained of left lumbar pain and dysuria unresponsive to antibiotic therapy for approximately 5 months. She reported a previous partial gastrecto...

The life of a plant unfolds as a series of developmental stages, with each stage defined by changes in meristem identity. In maize, there are several distinct stages: the transition from vegetative growth to flowering, the elaboration of the inflorescence, and the formation of flowers. Progress in understanding meristem identity and function has been made by analyzing maize mutants with defects...

Over the past decade, the ABC model of flower development has been widely promulgated. However, correct flower-organ development requires not only the ABC genes but also the SEPALLATA genes. When the SEPALLATA genes are expressed together with the ABC genes, both vegetative and cauline leaves are converted to floral organs. Most of the ABC genes and all three SEPALLATA genes encode MADS transcr...

BACKGROUND Chrysanthemum morifolium is an important floral crop that is cultivated worldwide. However, due to a lack of genomic resources, very little information is available concerning the molecular mechanisms of flower development in chrysanthemum. RESULTS The transcriptomes of chrysanthemum vegetative buds, floral buds and buds were sequenced using Illumina paired-end sequencing technolog...

3.1. Development, growth and differentiation 3.1.1. Development Development is an umbrella term, referring to the sum of all of the changes that an organism goes through in its life cycle – from germination of the seed through growth, maturation, flowering, and senescence. Development is most readily manifest in changes in from of the organism or organ, such as the transition from the vegetativ...