An Investigation of the Potential Role of Brassinosteroids in Carpel Fusion in Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus L.)

Barbara Kahn

Date of Award

2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Clore, Amy

Keywords

Brassinosteroids, Cell Signaling, Plant Biology

Area of Concentration

Biology

Abstract

During floral ontogeny in Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus L.), the two distinct carpels arising from the meristem fuse to form a single gynoecium. As part of this process, approximately 400 epidermal cells on the contacting (adaxial) surfaces change fate and become parenchyma cells. Previous work has shown that a diffusible factor (or factors) is exchanged between the carpels to initiate these changes, but the chemical nature of the factor(s) is unknown. We have found that treatment of the factor with proteinase K did not change its ability to elicit this fate change. This result led us to consider non-proteinaceous substances, such as lipids. Therefore, we treated cuttings with spironolactone, which has been shown by others to inhibit the action of steroidal plant hormones, known as brassinosteroids. Such treatment resulted in inhibition of fusion, in some samples, or incomplete fusion in other samples. In addition, 24-epibrassinolide applied directly to the carpel abaxial surface appeared to induce features of the cell fate change. Future work in the laboratory will be aimed at further testing the hypothesis that brassinosteroids play an important role in carpel fusion in periwinkle.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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