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Differential CYCLOIDEA Expression across Developing Compound Floral Heads

Gene duplication has been implicated in the evolution of novel features across flowering plants. Of great interest has been the shift from radial to bilateral symmetry in flowers. Previous studies have demonstrated that the transcription factor CYCLOIDEA (CYC) plays an intricate role in establishing dorsal, lateral, and ventral petals, as well as in the evolution of compound floral heads (i.e., inner and outer flowers differ in symmetry). In this study, we investigated whether multiple copies of CYC differ in their expression patterns between inner and outer flowers of the compound floral heads in Knautia macedonica (Dipsacaceae). qPCR was used to determine relative expression patterns for six copies of CYC in dorsal, lateral, and ventral petals of developing inner and outer flowers. Our data show that different copies of CYC are differentially expressed in different petal types of both inner and outer flowers, with CYC2A likely playing a role in dorsal identity, and CYC2B copies involved in lateral identity. Similar patterns of gene expression were found in inner and outer flowers suggesting a dosage effect in floral head development.