Silencing of PhLA, a CIN-TCP gene, causes defected petal conical epidermal cell formation and results in reflexed corolla lobes in petunia.

Background: TCP-domain proteins, plant specific transcription factors, play important roles in various developmental processes. CIN-TCPs control leaf curvature in simple leaf species while regulate leaf complexity in compound leaf species. However, the knowledge was largely based on findings in few model species.