叶形是植物最常见的表型性状，但关于叶形发育的调控机理目前仍不清楚。鹅掌楸叶形奇特，且种间差异大、杂种子代叶形分化明显，因而是研究叶形发育及调控机理的较理想材料。本项目利用RNA-seq技术进行转录组测序，通过比较不同叶形、不同发育阶段的转录组信息，挖掘鹅掌楸叶形发育相关基因。利用RACE技术克隆基因全长，并通过qRT-PCR及遗传转化技术进行基因功能分析。同时，选择杂种子代叶形分化大的群体从表型、基因表达两方面进行验证，在此基础上，探索鹅掌楸叶形发育的遗传调控机制。

Leaf shapes are the most common phenotypic traits in plants. However, the mechanism underlying leaf shape development keeps unknpwn. Due to its peculiar leaf shapes, obvious interspecific difference, and remarkable segregation among interspecific F1 populations, Liriodendron are ideal plants for exploring the mechanism underlying leaf shape development. This project aims at discovering and characterizing genes that regulate leaf shape development in Liriodendron. The research ideas and strategies are as follows: Transcriptome data of various tissues relating to leaf deveopment will be used to mine differential expression genes (DEGs). The full-length sequence of genes relating to leaf shape development will be isolated through RACE technique. The function validation of isolated genes will be executed via qRT-PCR and gene transfer technology. Furthermore, those novel genes will be verified phenotypically and genotypically in a interspecific F1 population. This findings may have potential application value in future tree breeding