The evolution of inbreeding is common throughout the angiosperms, although little is known about the developmental and genetic processes involved. Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium (currant tomato) is a self-compatible species with variation in outcrossing rate correlated with floral morphology. Mature flowers from inbreeding and outcrossing populations differ greatly in characters affecting mating...

A new legume species from a seasonally dry forest of the Western Río Balsas Depression, in the states of Guerrero and Michoacán, Mexico, Erythrostemon guevarafeferii, is herein described and illustrated. The new species shows morphological affinities with Erythrostemon hintonii, from which it is distinguished in having fewer leaflets per pinna, mature leaflets disposed toward the upper half of ...

The separation of male and female flowers in maize provides the potential for independent regulation of traits that affect crop productivity. For example, tassel branch number controls pollen abundance and length of shedding time, whereas ear row number directly affects kernel yield. Mutations in duplicate SBP-box transcription factor genes unbranched2 (ub2) and ub3 affect both of these yield t...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The inflorescence of grass species such as wheat, rice and maize consists of a unique reproductive structure called the spikelet, which is comprised of one, a few, or several florets (individual flowers). When reproductive growth is initiated, the inflorescence meristem differentiates a spikelet meristem as a lateral branch; the spikelet meristem then produces a floret meris...

Grapevine reproductive development extends over two growing seasons (vegetative cycles), for the complete formation of inflorescences and clusters. Induction floral differentiation, mechanism that leads to structures inside dormant buds, is a complex process divided into three well-defined stages (formation anlagen, inflorescence primordia flowers). This sequence comprises morphological, bioche...

The new rank and combination Berberis extensiflora (Ahrendt) Bh.Adhikari & Harber is proposed based on morphological molecular studies of the Himalayan species (Berberidaceae). Morphologically, differs from B. concinna Hook.f. by its much longer (3–4 cm) inflorescence with 2 or 3 flowers in umbels (vs < cm long solitary flowers) 10- to 13-seeded berries 5- 9-seeded berries). A detailed t...