GE2MorF - Genetics, Evolution and Ecology of the Floral Morphology

 01/01/0001 -  GQE
Evolution of mechanisms underlying the morphological diversity of flowers with a focus on petals and the symmetry of the perianth. Role of perianth diversity for adaptation and speciation.

Head :
Yves Deveaux (UPSay)

Genetics, Evolution and Ecology of the Floral Morphology

We are interested in the evolution of the floral architecture, more specifically that of the perianth, i.e. all the sterile organs involved in the protection of fertile organs and/or the attraction of pollinators. Our models of study belong mainly to the Ranunculaceae family, a member of the Ranunculales order. There phylogenetic position is very interesting for evo-devo studies because it is the first clade to diverge among eudicotyledons (APG IV, 2017). It also presents a great diversity of perianth, with organ morphologies that can be simple or elaborate (i.e., flat with a nectariferous scale, e.g., Ficaria verna or with a nectariferous spur, e.g., Aquilegia sp.). The morpho-anatomical characterization of these organs and the analysis of the dynamics of the gene networks involved in their developments represent a fundamental challenge in evolutionary biology. To reach these objectives, we mainly use Nigella damascena (commonly known as love-in-a-mist) as a study model, which is a very suitable for the production of fundamental knowledge on the evolution of floral morphogenesis. Moreover, this species opens up many opportunities to address multidisciplinary scientific projects, such as the mechanisms of pollinator attraction. We also include sustainability issues in our research projects, such as environmental management, development of agricultural practices adapted to climate change. The GE2MorF team is also part of a network of international research collaborations on Ranunculales. We are members of the RanOmics network (10 research teams) led by Pr. Annette Becker   , which brings together the world leaders in evo-devo studies on Ranunculales models. Among its members, we have long-standing collaborations with Pr. Sophie Nadot   and Florian Jabbour   . Our research projects are fully in line with the three research axes of the UMR GQE-Le Moulon.

Project in Axis 1

pétales de nigelle

The genetic and molecular origin of perianth diversity is the main project of our team. Nigella damascena L., our preferred model, has the advantage of presenting a natural floral dimorphism with morphs with nectariferous petals [P] or without petals [T]. We took advantage of these two floral morphs to (i) access the gene network controlling the formation of petals and (ii) elucidate the mechanisms regulating the identity and morphogenesis of petals. These results and ongoing projects allow us to investigate the function and evolutionary dynamics of the genes of the petal network, including other Ranunculaceae species with more or less complex petal structures.

We are also interested in the evo-devo of nectars and spurs, the major structures involved in attracting pollinators and in the co-evolution of flowering plants with insects. We aim at analyzing the petal morpho-anatomy in order to link the latter to the evolutionary dynamics of major genes of the petal regulatory network.

Project in Axis 2

pétales de nigelle

In nigella, previous studies have demonstrated the major role of nectariferous petals in attracting pollinators. The team is taking advantage of the new environment created by the recent grouping of the 3 units GQE, ESE and EGCE in the IDEEV building, to develop a collaborative project with Jean-Christophe Sandoz   of EGCE, specialist in honeybee behavior. The objective of such collaboration is to better understand the signaling mechanisms involved in plant-insect pollinator interactions (funded by the Graduate School “Biosphera”).

Project in Axis 3

pétales de nigelle

Nigella damascena is a nectariferous species that is cultivated on several continent as an ornamental plant. This species that is well-adapted to episodes of extreme heat and water stress, is also interesting for the medicinal properties of its essential oil. In the context of climate change, this species is a genetic resource with good agronomic potential either for the production of pharmacological compounds or as a pollination service plant to contribute to local increases in the diversity and abundance of pollinating insects. We aim to select Nigella lines suitable for these issues.

Members

Publications

2023
  • Conde e Silva N. , Leguilloux M., Bellec A., Rodde N., Aubert J., Manicacci D., Damerval C. , Berges H., Deveaux Y. , Bartlett M.. (2023) A MITE insertion abolishes the AP3-3 self-maintenance regulatory loop in apetalous flowers of Nigella damascena. Journal of Experimental Botany, 5 (74) 1448-1459
2022
  • Damerval C. , Claudot C., Le Guilloux M. , Conde e Silva N. , Brunaud V., Soubigou-Taconnat L., Caius J., Delannoy E., Nadot S., Jabbour F., Deveaux Y. . (2022) Evolutionary analyses and expression patterns of TCP genes in Ranunculales. Front Plant Sci, (13) 1055196
  • Delpeuch P., Jabbour F., Damerval C. , Schönenberger J., Pamperl S., Rome M., Nadot S.. (2022) A flat petal as ancestral state for Ranunculaceae. Front Plant Sci, (13) 961906
2021
  • Deveaux Y. , Conde e Silva N. , Manicacci D., Le Guilloux M. , Brunaud V., Belcram H., Joets J., Soubigou-Taconnat L., Delannoy E., Corti H., Balzergue S., Caius J., Nadot S., Damerval C. . (2021) Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Putative Target Genes of APETALA3-3 During Early Floral Development in Nigella damascena L.. Front. Plant Sci., (12) 660803
  • Jabbour F., Pasquier PED., Chazalviel L., Guilloux ML., Conde e Silva N. , Deveaux Y. , Manicacci D., Galipot P., Heiss AG., Damerval C. . (2021) Evolution of the distribution area of the Mediterranean Nigella damascena and a likely multiple molecular origin of its perianth dimorphism. Flora, (274) 151735
2020
  • Carrive L., Domenech B., Sauquet H., Jabbour F., Damerval C. , Nadot S.. (2020) Insights into the ancestral flowers of Ranunculales. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 1 (194) 23-46
  • Espinosa F., Damerval C. , Le Guilloux M. , Deroin T., Wang W., Pinedo-Castro M., Nadot S., Jabbour F.. (2020) Homeosis and delayed floral meristem termination could account for abnormal flowers in cultivars of Delphinium and Aquilegia (Ranunculaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, boaa063
  • Jabbour F., Pasquier PED., Chazalviel L., Guilloux ML., Condee Silva N., Deveaux Y. , Manicacci D., Galipot P., Heiss AG., Damerval C. . (2020) Evolution of the distribution area of the Mediterranean Nigella damascena and a likely multiple molecular origin of its perianth dimorphism. Flora, 151735
2019
  • Damerval C. , Citerne H., Conde e Silva N. , Deveaux Y. , Delannoy E., Joets J., Simonnet F., Staedler Y., Schönenberger J., Yansouni J., Le Guilloux M. , Sauquet H., Nadot S.. (2019) Unraveling the Developmental and Genetic Mechanisms Underpinning Floral Architecture in Proteaceae. Front. Plant Sci., (10) 18
2018
  • Damerval C. , Othman WB., Manicacci D., Jabbour F.. (2018) Distribution area of the two floral morphs of Nigella damascena L. (Ranunculaceae): A diachronic study using herbarium specimens collected in France. Botany Letters, 3-4 (165) 396-403
2017
  • Citerne HL., Reyes E., Le Guilloux M. , Delannoy E., Simonnet F., Sauquet H., Weston PH., Nadot S., Damerval C. . (2017) Characterization of CYCLOIDEA -like genes in Proteaceae, a basal eudicot family with multiple shifts in floral symmetry. Ann Bot, 3 (119) 367-378
  • Damerval C. , Nadot S.. (2017) Letter to the 21st century botanist: “What is a flower?” 6. The evo-devo of floral symmetry. Botany Letters, 3 (164) 193-196
  • Denis E., Kbiri N., Mary V., Claisse G., Conde e Silva N. , Kreis M., Deveaux Y. . (2017) WOX14 promotes bioactive gibberellin synthesis and vascular cell differentiation in Arabidopsis. Plant J., 3 (90) 560-572
2015
  • Sauquet H., Carrive L., Poullain N., Sannier J., Damerval C. , Nadot S.. (2015) Zygomorphy evolved from disymmetry in Fumarioideae (Papaveraceae, Ranunculales): new evidence from an expanded molecular phylogenetic framework. Ann Bot, 6 (115) 895-914