60. EPFL Genes and their Role in Flower Development in Arabidopsis thaliana

Flowers are composed of four floral organ types: sepals, petals, stamens, and a pistil. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the ERECTA family leucine rich repeat receptor like kinases (LRR-RLKs) have been shown to regulate plant morphology. Epidermal Patterning Factor-Like (EPFL) genes encode for small secretory proteins that are ligands for ERECTA Family (ERf) receptors. It is suspected that EPFL’s act as a signal to coordinate proper lateral organ number, patterning, and spacing. ERf mutants have significant defects in flower development, including difficulty forming anther lobes and pistils, yet little is known about how individual EPFL ligands contribute to ERf signaling. In order to gain a better understanding of the unique roles of EPFLs in cell-to-cell communication during flower development, various epfl mutant combinations were analyzed. Arabidopsis thaliana flowers of different developmental stages were analyzed using Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) microscopy with the goal of utilizing flower development as a model system to understand the distinct roles of the individual EPFL ligands and, ultimately, ERf signaling pathways.