Origin and Evolutionary Diversification of Andromonoecy

9982489 diggle当今植物生殖和进化生物学中最有趣的一个方面是开花植物性系统的多样性。大多数开花植物是雌雄同体的，每朵花都有雄性和雌性的部分。然而，相当数量的开花植物已经进化出高度复杂的性系统，包括由同一个体产生不同类型的花。雄蕊雌花：植物产生雌雄同体和功能性雄花的性系统。尽管对雌雄同体的功能进行了一个多世纪的深入研究，但这种性系统的起源仍然是一个谜。本研究探讨了茄属植物雄雄性的进化起源和多样性。本研究将确定植物和花在从只产生雌雄同体花到雌雄同体花的进化过程中被修改的具体特征，以及同时产生雌雄同体花和雄花的能力。植物性系统的进化和功能研究对植物生物学的基础和应用研究具有重要意义。性系统决定了交配的模式，从而决定了种群的遗传结构。它们是生殖产出（如果实生产）的重要决定因素，并可能为植物对环境变化的反应提供关键机制。这项研究的结果对于理解过去对可变环境的进化反应和预测对未来环境变化的反应机制尤为重要。此外，功能性雌雄同体限制了许多物种的生产力，包括多年生水果作物。这项研究有可能确定育种家和遗传学家可以针对的发育过程，以提高生产力。

9982489DiggleOne of the most intriguing aspects of plant reproductive and evolutionary biology today is the diversity of sexual systems in flowering plants. The majority of flowering plants are hermaphroditic, with each flower bearing both male and female parts. A significant number of flowering plants, however, have evolved highly complex sexual systems that involve the production of different flower types by the same individual. Andromonoecyis a sexual system in which plants produce both hermaphrodite and functionally male flowers. Despite over a century of intensive study of the function of andromonoecy, the origin of this sexual system remains a mystery. This study addresses the evolutionary origin and diversification of andromonoecy within the genus Solanum. This research will identify the specific features of plants and flowers that have been modified during the evolutionary transition from the production of only hermaphroditic flowers to andromonoecy and the ability to produce both hermaphroditic and male flowers.This research on the evolution and function of plant sexual systems has broad implications for basic and applied research in plant biology. Sexual systems determine patterns of mating, and thus the genetic structure of populations. They are important determinants of reproductive output (e.g., fruit production), and may provide critical mechanisms for plant response to environmental variation. The results of this research will be particularly important for understanding past evolutionary responses to a variable environment and predicting mechanisms of response to future environmental change. In addition, functional andromonoecy limits productivity in many species , including perennial fruit crops. This research has the potential to identify developmental processes that can be targeted by breeders and geneticists to improve productivity.