dc.contributor.author | Le Maitre, Nicholas C. | |
dc.contributor.author | Pirie, Michael David | |
dc.contributor.author | Bellstedt, Dirk U. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2020-03-25T13:59:38Z | |
dc.date.available | 2020-03-25T13:59:38Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2019 | |
dc.Published | Le Maitre NC, Pirie MD, Bellstedt DU. Floral Color, Anthocyanin Synthesis Gene Expression and Control in Cape Erica Species. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2019;10:1565 | eng |
dc.identifier.issn | 1664-462X | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1956/21591 | |
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_US |
dc.language.iso | eng | eng |
dc.publisher | Frontiers | eng |
dc.rights | Attribution CC BY | eng |
dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 | eng |
dc.title | Floral Color, Anthocyanin Synthesis Gene Expression and Control in Cape Erica Species | eng |
dc.type | Peer reviewed | en_US |
dc.type | Journal article | en_US |
dc.date.updated | 2020-01-10T13:02:56Z | |
dc.description.version | publishedVersion | |
dc.rights.holder | Copyright 2019 The Author(s) | eng |
dc.identifier.doi | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01565 | |
dc.identifier.cristin | 1755500 | |
dc.source.journal | Frontiers in Plant Science | |