Investigations into the Developmental, Genetic and Molecular Events Underlying Changes in Floral Morphology Associated with Speciation and Sex in Plants

职务名称：植物花形态变化的遗传、发育和分子事件与物种形成和性别的关系。 Steven D.植物和动物的性可能是作为一种控制交配的方式而进化的，（从长远来看）是为了避免近亲繁殖的衰退和保持遗传变异。由于这个原因，大多数动物既有雄性又有雌性。 相比之下，大多数植物物种并不表现出离散的性别。 尽管如此，植物已经进化出非常有效的机制来促进异花受精和避免自花受精。 其中一种机制涉及花的结构变化， 促进自花授粉或异花授粉。 这些花结构变化背后的发育和分子过程还不清楚。 以番茄及其野生近缘种为模型，我们将开始分离和表征影响植物交配行为的花形态变化的基因和发育机制。 此外，我们将试图确定是否共同的发展过程已参与整个植物王国的交配系统的进化。 因此，这项工作将提供一个起点，研究人员感兴趣的遗传和生态基础的交配行为的植物。 在实践方面，了解交配控制的基础是农业的关键，因为所有的植物育种技术和大多数商业杂交种都依赖于控制交配行为。

Title: Investigations into the Genetic, Developmental and Molecular Events Underlying Changes in Floral Morphology Associated with Speciation and Sex in PlantsP.I. Steven D. Tanksley (Cornell University)Reward AbstractSex in plants and animals has presumably evolved as a way to control mating and (in the long term) to avoid inbreeding depression and maintain genetic variation. For this reason, most animal species possess both male and female sexes. In contrast, most plant species do not display discrete sexes. Nonetheless, plants have evolved very effective mechanisms to promote cross fertilization and avoid self-fertilization. One of these mechanisms involves changes in flower structure that can promote either self pollination or cross pollination. The developmental and molecular processes underlying these changes in floral structure are not well understood. Using tomato, and its wild relatives, as a model, we will begin to isolate and characterize the genes and developmental mechanisms underlying the changes in floral morphology that affect mating behavior in plants. Moreover, we will try to determine whether common developmental processes have been involved in the evolution of mating systems throughout the plant kingdom. Hence, this work will provide a starting point for researchers interested in the genetic and ecological bases for mating behavior in plants. On the practical side, understanding the basis for mating control is key to agriculture as all plant breeding techniques and most commercial hybrids rely on controlling mating behavior.