The Genes of Leaf and Leaf-Like Organ Polarity in Leafless Plant .

is a mycoheterotrophic, nonphotosynthetic plant acquiring nutrients from the roots of autotrophic trees through mycorrhizal symbiosis, and, similar to other extant plants, forming asymmetrical lateral organs during development. The members of the YABBY family of transcription factors are important players in the establishment of leaf and leaf-like organ polarity in plants. This is the first report on the identification of genes in a mycoheterotrophic plant devoid of aboveground vegetative organs. Seven members were identified and classified into four clades. By structural analysis of putative encoded proteins, we confirmed the presence of YABBY-defining conserved domains and identified novel clade-specific motifs. Transcriptomic and qRT-PCR analyses of different tissues revealed transcriptional patterns, which were similar to those of orthologous genes from other angiosperms. These data should contribute to the understanding of the role of the genes in the regulation of developmental and physiological processes in achlorophyllous leafless plants.