Genetic interactions in the control of flowering time and reproductive structure development in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).

Different tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutants, affected in flowering time, reproductive structure or plant architecture, were crossed to produce double mutants in order to investigate gene interactions in flowering regulation in this autonomous species with a sympodial growth habit. The compound inflorescence: uniflora, uniflora: self pruning, uniflora: blind, and jointless: uniflora double mutants all produced solitary flowers like their uniflora parent, instead of inflorescences. All double mutants were late flowering.

Immunocytochemistry of pectins in shoot apical meristems: consequences for intercellular adhesion.

The nature of pectins (acidic, methyl-, or acetyl-esterified) in the shoot meristem of Sinapis alba was assessed by immunocytochemistry with the 2F4 monoclonal antibody in light and electron microscopy. This antibody is specific for "egg-boxes"--the polygalacturonic acid conformation induced by calcium as described in Liners et al. (Plant Physiol.

UNIFLORA, a pivotal gene that regulates floral transition and meristem identity in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum).

•  Flowering of uniflora (uf), a tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) mutant which consistently produces solitary flowers instead of inflorescences, is late and highly asynchronous in winter. This puzzling behaviour prompted us to further investigate flowering regulation in this mutant to improve our understanding of UNIFLORA gene function. •  Growing plants under different daylengths and light intensities revealed that flowering time in uf is dependent on daily light energy integral.

A novel high efficiency, low maintenance, hydroponic system for synchronous growth and flowering of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Background: Arabidopsis thaliana is now the model organism for genetic and molecular plant studies, but growing conditions may still impair the significance and reproducibility of the experimental strategies developed. Besides the use of phytotronic cabinets, controlling plant nutrition may be critical and could be achieved in hydroponics. The availability of such a system would also greatly facilitate studies dealing with root development.

The shoot apical meristem of Sinapis alba L. expands its central symplasmic field during the floral transition.

The shoot apical meristem (SAM) is functionally subdivided into zones with distinct tasks. During vegetative growth the peripheral zone of the meristem gives rise to leaf primordia that develop into dorsiventral leaves under the influence of signals from the central zone. During the floral transition the function of the SAM is altered and its peripheral zone starts to form floral structures in a specific pattern.