The EgLFY gene cloned from Eucalyptus grandis has sequence homology to the floral meristem identity gene LEAFY (LFY) from Arabidopsis and FLORICAULA (FLO) from Antirrhinum. EgLFY is preferentially expressed in the developing eucalypt floral organs in a pattern similar to that described previously for the Arabidopsis LFY. In situ hybridization experiments have shown that EgLFY is strongly expressed in the early floral meristem and then successively in the primordia of sepals, petals, stamens and carpels. It is also expressed in the leaf primordia of adult trees. The expression of the EgLFY coding region under control of the Arabidopsis LFY promoter could complement strong lfy mutations in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. These data suggest that EgLFY plays a similar role to LFY in flower development and that the basic mechanisms involved in flower initiation and development in Eucalyptus may be similar to those occurring in Arabidopsis.
Eucalyptus; flowering; LEAFY; reproductive development
