Analysis of phenotypic plasticity of leaf shape of lake cress, Neobeckia aquatica

北美的湖菜，Neobeckia aquatica根据生长条件戏剧性地改变其叶子形态。我们发现叶片形状随着温度和光照强度的变化以及水下淹没的变化而变化。成熟叶片的最终形态是在原基发育的早期阶段通过植物激素赤霉素和KNOX1基因活性决定的。为了鉴定对环境可塑性有重要影响的基因，我们采用新一代测序技术进行了转录组分析。与激素调节或反应有关的基因组，以及与叶片发育有关的基因，被发现有差异表达。未来，我们计划分析这些基因的时空表达和功能，揭示新贝叶形态发生的环境可塑性机制。

The North American lake cress, Neobeckia aquatica alters its leaf morphology dramatically depending on the growth conditions. We found that leaf shape changes in response to varying temperature and light intensity, as well as to underwater submergence. The final morphology of mature leaf is determined in early phases of primordium development, via the plant hormone gibberellin and KNOX1 gene activity. In order to identify genes important for the environmental plasticity, we have conducted transcriptome analysis employing next-generation sequencing technology. Groups of genes implicated in hormonal regulation or response, as well as genes involved in leaf development, were found differentially expressed. In future we plan to analyze the spatiotemporal expression and function of these genes and uncover the mechanism underlying the environmental plasticity of Neobeckia leaf morphogenesis.