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Floral Biology 3.0
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Floral Biology 3.0

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Development and Morphogenesis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 July 2024) | Viewed by 10947

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Agnes Farkas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
Interests: floral and pollination biology of medicinal plants and fruit trees; chemical composition of floral nectar and honey; bioactivity of honey
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Floral biology covers a wide array of topics, including the morphology and anatomy of floral parts, pollination by different pollen vectors, the floral rewards pollen and nectar, as well as the reproductive strategies of a plant species.

This field raises important issues such as the close relationship between flower structure and function, the adaptation of plants to pollinators with their floral traits, the backgrounds and consequences of floral polymorphisms, including the issue of incompatibility, as well as the balance between fitness and resource allocation. In addition, floral biology has numerous practical implications: flower traits affect fruit yield and quality, which are essential in horticulture and crop production; the survival of bee colonies and honey production are determined by the quantity and quality of floral nectar and pollen; flowers can be important sources of medicinally significant chemical substances; floriculture requires breeding new varieties; and there is a growing interest in edible flowers, which in turn raises safety issues.

The study of floral biology requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving anatomy, biochemistry, botany, ethology, entomology, molecular biology, and analytical chemistry. In accordance, this Special Issue will cover a wide variety of areas connected to any aspect of floral biology, aiming to contribute to our overall knowledge of plant diversity and the importance of adaptation to changing circumstances.

Plants will soon be publishing the third edition of the Special Issue on “Floral Biology”. In this Special Issue, original research papers, reviews, methodological papers, and perspectives focusing on various aspects of floral biology are most welcome.

Dr. Agnes Farkas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bee
  • compatibility
  • nectar
  • nectary
  • pollen
  • pollination
  • pollen vector
  • reproductive biology
  • resource
  • reward

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Related Special Issues

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2519 KiB  
Article
Blooming Phenograms, Pollen Production, and Pollen Quality during Storage of Pistachio Cultivars in New Mediterranean Growing Areas
by Giuseppe Lillo, Claudio Calia, Danilo Cice, Milena Petriccione and Salvatore Camposeo
Plants 2024, 13(18), 2606; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13182606 - 18 Sep 2024
Viewed by 778
Abstract
Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a dioecious, anemophilous, and drought-resistant fruit tree species. It is cultivated in new Mediterranean areas, including the regions of southern Italy (Apulia and Basilicata). It has been estimated that over 40,000 ha are suitable for pistachio cultivation [...] Read more.
Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a dioecious, anemophilous, and drought-resistant fruit tree species. It is cultivated in new Mediterranean areas, including the regions of southern Italy (Apulia and Basilicata). It has been estimated that over 40,000 ha are suitable for pistachio cultivation in areas infected by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca. As a newly introduced species, knowledge of its biological reproductive behaviors in its new areas of spreading is essential for appropriate agronomic planning and management. This two-year study (2022 and 2023), carried out in the countryside of Stigliano (MT, Italy), had the objective of evaluating the flowering phenograms, pollen production, and assessing protocols for the conservation and extension of pollen viability, of the most widespread cultivars. A slight delay was observed in the blooming phenograms, compared to other cultivation Mediterranean areas, such as Spain or Sicily. Furthermore, the overlap between female and male phenograms was partial. No significant differences were observed in the polliniferous aptitude of the two male cultivars. Among the different protocols tested, the pollen storage at 33% relative humidity and a temperature of −80 °C maintained the pollen germinability above 50% for up to three weeks. These findings highlight the importance of controlled environmental conditions in preserving pollen viability over extended periods, providing valuable insights for agricultural and botanical research that relies on maintaining pollen viability for breeding and genetic studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Floral Biology 3.0)
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14 pages, 5795 KiB  
Article
CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED1 Delays Flowering by Directly Inhibiting the Transcription of BcSOC1 in Pak-choi
by Ying He, Dong Xiao, Cheng Jiang, Yiran Li and Xilin Hou
Plants 2024, 13(16), 2190; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162190 - 8 Aug 2024
Viewed by 752
Abstract
Flowering is critical to the success of plant propagation. The MYB family transcription factor CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED1 (CCA1) is an essential component of the core loop of the circadian clock and plays a crucial role in regulating plant flowering time. In this [...] Read more.
Flowering is critical to the success of plant propagation. The MYB family transcription factor CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED1 (CCA1) is an essential component of the core loop of the circadian clock and plays a crucial role in regulating plant flowering time. In this study, we found that photoperiod affects the expression pattern and expression level of BcCCA1, which is delayed flowering time under short-day conditions in Pak-choi [Brassica campestris (syn. Brassica rapa) ssp. chinensis]. We detected overexpression and silencing of BcCCA1 in Pak-choi, resulting in delayed and promoted flowering time, respectively. Furthermore, we also discovered that FLOWERING LOCUS C (BcFLC) and SUPPRESSOR OF CONSTANS1 (BcSOC1) were expressed significantly differently in BcCCA1 overexpression and silencing plants compared with control plants. Therefore, we further investigated the interaction relationship between BcCCA1, BcFLC, and BcSOC1, and the results showed that BcCCA1 and BcFLC as a complex interacted with each other. Moreover, both BcCCA1 and BcFLC can directly bind to the promoter of BcSOC1 and repress its transcription, and BcCCA1 can form a complex with BcFLC to enhance the transcriptional inhibition of BcSOC1 by BcFLC. This study reveals a new mechanism by which the circadian clock regulates flowering time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Floral Biology 3.0)
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14 pages, 10371 KiB  
Article
A Simple and User-Friendly Method for High-Quality Preparation of Pollen Grains for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
by Aleksey Ermolaev, Majd Mardini, Sergey Buravkov, Natalya Kudryavtseva and Ludmila Khrustaleva
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2140; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152140 - 1 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1101
Abstract
Pollen is becoming an increasingly important subject for molecular researchers in genetic engineering, plant breeding, and environmental monitoring. To broaden the scope of these studies, it is essential to develop accessible methods for scientists who are not specialized in palynology. The article presents [...] Read more.
Pollen is becoming an increasingly important subject for molecular researchers in genetic engineering, plant breeding, and environmental monitoring. To broaden the scope of these studies, it is essential to develop accessible methods for scientists who are not specialized in palynology. The article presents a simplified technical procedure for preparing pollen grains for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The protocol is convenient for any molecular laboratory due to its small set of reagents, ease of execution, low cost, does not require special equipment, and takes only one hour to complete. The high penetrating ability of formaldehyde and the final delicate dehydration using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) instead of critical point drying allow for sufficient preservation of the architecture of the aperture, which is considered a gateway for the passage of biomolecules. The method was successfully applied to pollen grains of representatives of dicotyledons (beetroot, petunia, radish, tomato and tobacco) and monocotyledons (lily, onion, corn, rye and wheat). Species studied included insect-pollinated (entomophilous) and wind-pollinated (anemophilous) species. A comparative analysis of the sizes of fresh living pollen grains under a light microscope and those prepared for SEM showed some shrinkage. Quantitative analysis of the degree of pollen grain shrinkage showed that this process depends on the initial shape of dry pollen grains, and the number and structure of apertures. The results support the theoretical model of the folding/unfolding pathways of pollen grains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Floral Biology 3.0)
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17 pages, 6290 KiB  
Article
Functional Characterization of PoEP1 in Regulating the Flowering Stage of Tree Peony
by Yang Lei, Jingshan Gao, Yuying Li, Chengwei Song, Qi Guo, Lili Guo and Xiaogai Hou
Plants 2024, 13(12), 1642; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13121642 - 14 Jun 2024
Viewed by 821
Abstract
The tree peony, a traditional flower in China, has a short and concentrated flowering period, restricting the development of the tree peony industry. To explore the molecular mechanism of tree peony flowering-stage regulation, PoEP1, which regulated the flowering period, was identified and [...] Read more.
The tree peony, a traditional flower in China, has a short and concentrated flowering period, restricting the development of the tree peony industry. To explore the molecular mechanism of tree peony flowering-stage regulation, PoEP1, which regulated the flowering period, was identified and cloned based on the transcriptome and degradome data of the early-flowering mutant Paeonia ostii ‘Fengdan’ (MU) and Paeonia ostii ‘Fengdan’ (FD). Through bioinformatics analysis, expression pattern analysis, and transgene function verification, the role of PoEP1 in the regulation of tree peony flowering was explored. The open-reading frame of PoEP1 is 1161 bp, encoding 386 amino acids, containing two conserved domains. PoEP1 was homologous to the EP1 of other species. Subcellular localization results showed that the protein was localized in the cell wall and that PoEP1 expression was highest in the initial decay stage of the tree peony. The overexpression of PoEP1 in transgenic plants advanced and shortened the flowering time, indicating that PoEP1 overexpression promotes flowering and senescence and shorten the flowering time of plants. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for exploring the role of PoEP1 in the regulation of tree peony flowering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Floral Biology 3.0)
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19 pages, 5451 KiB  
Article
Studies on Candidate Genes Related to Flowering Time in a Multiparent Population of Maize Derived from Tropical and Temperate Germplasm
by Fengyun Ran, Yizhu Wang, Fuyan Jiang, Xingfu Yin, Yaqi Bi, Ranjan K. Shaw and Xingming Fan
Plants 2024, 13(7), 1032; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13071032 - 5 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1519
Abstract
A comprehensive study on maize flowering traits, focusing on the regulation of flowering time and the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying the genes controlling flowering, holds the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of the associated regulatory gene network. In this study, three [...] Read more.
A comprehensive study on maize flowering traits, focusing on the regulation of flowering time and the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying the genes controlling flowering, holds the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of the associated regulatory gene network. In this study, three tropical maize inbreds, CML384, CML171, and CML444, were used, along with a temperate maize variety, Shen137, as parental lines to cross with Ye107. The resulting F1s underwent seven consecutive generations of self-pollination through the single-seed descent (SSD) method to develop a multiparent population. To investigate the regulation of maize flowering time-related traits and to identify loci and candidate genes, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted. GWAS analysis identified 556 SNPs and 12 candidate genes that were significantly associated with flowering time-related traits. Additionally, an analysis of the effect of the estimated breeding values of the subpopulations on flowering time was conducted to further validate the findings of the present study. Collectively, this study offers valuable insights into novel candidate genes, contributing to an improved understanding of maize flowering time-related traits. This information holds practical significance for future maize breeding programs aimed at developing high-yielding hybrids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Floral Biology 3.0)
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17 pages, 5475 KiB  
Article
Function of FT in Flowering Induction in Two Camellia Species
by Xiong Wang, Jiyuan Li, Hengfu Yin, Xinlei Li, Weixin Liu and Zhengqi Fan
Plants 2024, 13(6), 784; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060784 - 10 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1230
Abstract
FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), belonging to the FT/TFL1 gene family, is an important gene regulating the flowering transition and inflorescence architecture during plant development. Given its importance to plant adaptation and crop improvement, FT has been extensively studied in [...] Read more.
FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), belonging to the FT/TFL1 gene family, is an important gene regulating the flowering transition and inflorescence architecture during plant development. Given its importance to plant adaptation and crop improvement, FT has been extensively studied in related plant research; however, the specific role and underlying molecular mechanisms of FT in the continuous flowering of perennial plants remains elusive. Here, we isolated and characterized homologous FT genes from two Camellia species with different flowering-period phenotypes: CaFT was isolated from Camellia azalea, a precious species blooming in summer and flowering throughout the year, and CjFT was isolated from C. japonica, which blooms in winter and spring. The major difference in the genes between the two species was an additional five-amino acid repeat sequence in C. japonica. FT showed high expression levels in the leaves in both species from January to August, especially in April for C. japonica and in May for C. azalea. CaFT was expressed throughout the year in C. azalea, whereas CjFT was not expressed from September to December in C. japonica. The expression levels of FT in the floral buds were generally higher than those in the leaves. Overexpression of CaFT and CjFT in Arabidopsis indicated that both genes can activate downstream genes to promote flowering. Transgenic callus tissue was obtained by introducing the two genes into C. azalea through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transcriptome and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses indicated that both florigen FT genes promoted the expression of downstream genes such as AP1, FUL, and SEP3, and slightly up-regulated the expression of upstream genes such as CO and GI. The above results indicated that CaFT and CjFT played a role in promoting flowering in both camellia species. The expression pattern of CaFT in leaves suggested that, compared to CjFT, CaFT may be related to the annual flowering of C. azalea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Floral Biology 3.0)
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17 pages, 2315 KiB  
Article
Two Growing-Season Warming Partly Promoted Growth but Decreased Reproduction and Ornamental Value of Impatiens oxyanthera
by Jiayu Tao, Youqin Yang and Qiong Wang
Plants 2024, 13(4), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13040511 - 12 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1246
Abstract
Climate warming profoundly affects the vegetative growth, flowering phenology and sexual reproduction of plants; therefore, it affects the ornamental value of wild flowers. Despite this, the extent and mechanism of the impact remain unclear. Here, we conducted a warming experiment for two growing [...] Read more.
Climate warming profoundly affects the vegetative growth, flowering phenology and sexual reproduction of plants; therefore, it affects the ornamental value of wild flowers. Despite this, the extent and mechanism of the impact remain unclear. Here, we conducted a warming experiment for two growing seasons (increases of 1.89 °C in 2017 and 2.37 °C in 2018) with infrared heaters to examine the effects of warming on the ornamental value of the wild flower Impatiens oxyanthera, endemic to China, in Mount Emei. We evaluated the comprehensive ornamental value based on plant morphology and flowering characteristics using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and disentangled the impact of the two traits on ornamental value using principal component analysis (PCA) and the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) under ambient and warming treatments. We hypothesized that warming would reduce the ornamental value of I. oxyanthera in terms of plant morphology and flowering traits. Our results showed that warming significantly decreased plant height and crown width and increased branch number and single-leaf area. Warming also decreased vexillum length, corolla tube length, nectar spur length and pedicel length. In addition, warming shortened flowering duration per plant and reduced flower number, while there was no significant effect on flower longevity and flower color at full-bloom stage between the control and warming treatment. Therefore, the comprehensive ornamental value under warming was lower than that under the control. Pedicel length, flower color, flower longevity and flowering duration per plant were the main factors affecting the comprehensive ornamental value. The PLS-SEM showed that warming had an indirect negative effect on ornamental value via direct negative effects on flowering traits. Collectively, these results indicate that, although promoting vegetative growth, short-term warming significantly decreased the ornamental value of I. oxyanthera due to warming-caused smaller flowers and shorter flowering duration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Floral Biology 3.0)
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20 pages, 7234 KiB  
Article
Multi-Omics Analysis Revealed the AGR-FC.C3 Locus of Brassica napus as a Novel Candidate for Controlling Petal Color
by Yiran Ding, Huaixin Li, Xinmin Liu, Xin Cheng, Wang Chen, Mingli Wu, Liurong Chen, Jianjie He, Hongbo Chao, Haibo Jia, Chunhua Fu and Maoteng Li
Plants 2024, 13(4), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13040507 - 11 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1612
Abstract
Variations in the petal color of Brassica napus are crucial for ornamental value, but the controlled loci for breeding remain to be unraveled. Here, we report a candidate locus, AGR-FC.C3, having conducted a bulked segregant analysis on a segregating population with different [...] Read more.
Variations in the petal color of Brassica napus are crucial for ornamental value, but the controlled loci for breeding remain to be unraveled. Here, we report a candidate locus, AGR-FC.C3, having conducted a bulked segregant analysis on a segregating population with different petal colors. Our results showed that the locus covers 9.46 Mb of the genome, harboring 951 genes. BnaC03.MYB4, BnaC03.MYB85, BnaC03.MYB73, BnaC03.MYB98, and BnaC03.MYB102 belonging to MYB TFs families that might regulate the petal color were observed. Next, a bulk RNA sequencing of white and orange-yellow petals on three development stages was performed to further identify the possible governed genes. The results revealed a total of 51 genes by overlapping the transcriptome data and the bulked segregant analysis data, and it was found that the expression of BnaC03.CCD4 was significantly up-regulated in the white petals at three development stages. Then, several novel candidate genes such as BnaC03.ENDO3, BnaC03.T22F8.180, BnaC03.F15C21.8, BnaC03.Q8GSI6, BnaC03.LSD1, BnaC03.MAP1Da, BnaC03.MAP1Db, and BnaC03G0739700ZS putative to controlling the petal color were identified through deeper analysis. Furthermo re, we have developed two molecular markers for the reported functional gene BnaC03.CCD4 to discriminate the white and orange-yellow petal colors. Our results provided a novel locus for breeding rapeseed with multi-color petals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Floral Biology 3.0)
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18 pages, 5128 KiB  
Article
Hormonal Regulation and Transcriptomic Insights into Flower Development in Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanilla Strawberry’
by Chao Xue, Yuxing Wen, Song Sheng, Yu Gao, Yaoyi Zhang, Tingfeng Chen, Jiqing Peng and Shoujin Cao
Plants 2024, 13(4), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13040486 - 8 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1404
Abstract
Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate flower growth, development, and opening is of paramount importance, yet these processes remain less explored at the genetic level. Flower development in Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ is finely tuned through hormonal signals, yet the genetic underpinnings are [...] Read more.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate flower growth, development, and opening is of paramount importance, yet these processes remain less explored at the genetic level. Flower development in Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ is finely tuned through hormonal signals, yet the genetic underpinnings are not well defined. This study addresses the gap by examining the influence of gibberellic acid (GA3), salicylic acid (SA), and ethylene (ETH) on the flowering traits and underlying molecular responses. Treatment with 100 mg/L SA significantly improved chlorophyll content and bolstered the accumulation of soluble sugars and proteins, advancing the flowering onset by 6 days and lengthening the flowering period by 11 days. Concurrently, this treatment enhanced inflorescence dimensions, increasing length, width, and petal area by 22.76%, 26.74%, and 27.45%, respectively. Contrastingly, 100 mg/L GA3 expanded inflorescence size but postponed flowering initiation and decreased inflorescence count. Higher concentrations of SA and GA3, as well as any concentration of ETH, resulted in delayed flowering and inferior inflorescence attributes. A physiological analysis over 50 days revealed that these regulators variably affected sugar and protein levels and modified antioxidant enzyme activities. An RNA-seq analysis during floral development highlighted significant transcriptomic reprogramming, with SA treatment downregulating Myb transcription factors, implicating them in the modulation of flowering timing and stress adaptation. These findings illuminate the complex interplay between hormonal treatments, gene expression, and flowering phenotypes in Hydrangea paniculata, offering valuable perspectives for ornamental horticulture optimization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Floral Biology 3.0)
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