Floral color, anthocyanin synthesis gene expression and control in Cape Erica species
dc.contributor.author | Le Maitre, N. C. | en_ZA |
dc.contributor.author | Pirie, Michael David | en_ZA |
dc.contributor.author | Bellstedt, Dirk U. | en_ZA |
dc.date.accessioned | 2019-12-11T11:49:51Z | |
dc.date.available | 2019-12-11T11:49:51Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2019-11-28 | |
dc.description | CITATION: Le Maitre, N. C., Pirie, M. D. & Bellstedt, D. U. 2019. Floral color, anthocyanin synthesis gene expression and control in Cape Erica species. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10:1565, doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.01565. | en_ZA |
dc.description | The original publication is available at https://www.mdpi.com | en_ZA |
dc.description | Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund | en_ZA |
dc.description.abstract | Introduction: The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) is a biodiversity hotspot, recognized globally for its unusually high levels of endemism. The origins of this biodiversity are a long-standing topic of research. The largest “Cape clade,” Erica, radiated dramatically in the CFR, its ca. 690 species arising within 10–15 Ma. Notable between- and within-species flower color variation in Erica may have contributed to the origins of species diversity through its impact on pollinator efficiency and specificity. Methods: We investigate the expression and function of the genes of the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway that controls floral color in 12 Erica species groups using RT-qPCR and UPLC-MS/MS. Results: Shifts from ancestral pink- or red- to white- and/or yellow flowers were associated with independent losses of single pathway gene expression, abrogation of the entire pathway due to loss of the expression of a transcription factor or loss of function mutations in pathway genes. Discussion: Striking floral color shifts are prevalent amongst the numerous species of Cape Erica. These results show independent origins of a palette of mutations leading to such shifts, revealing the diverse genetic basis for potentially rapid evolution of a speciation-relevant trait. | en_ZA |
dc.description.uri | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2019.01565/full | |
dc.description.version | Publisher's version | en_ZA |
dc.description.version | Authors retain copyright | en_ZA |
dc.format.extent | 9 pages : illustrations | en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation | Le Maitre, N. C., Pirie, M. D. & Bellstedt, D. U. 2019. Floral color, anthocyanin synthesis gene expression and control in Cape Erica species. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10:1565, doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.01565 | en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn | 1664-462X (online) | |
dc.identifier.other | doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.01565 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/107343 | |
dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
dc.publisher | Frontiers Media | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Ericas -- Cape Floristic Region -- Floral color | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Ericas -- Cape Floristic Region -- Anthocyanin synthesis | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Ericas -- Diversification | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Ericas -- Cape Floristic Region -- Gene expression | en_ZA |
dc.title | Floral color, anthocyanin synthesis gene expression and control in Cape Erica species | en_ZA |
dc.type | Article | en_ZA |