Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Morphogenesis

Morphogenesis

Plant morphogenesis—the development of a plant’s form and structure—involves several overlapping developmental processes, including growth and cell differentiation. Precursor cells differentiate into specific cell types, which are organized into the tissues and organ systems that make up the functional plant.

Pollination and Flower Structure

Pollination and Flower Structure

Flowers are the reproductive, seed-producing structures of angiosperms. Typically, flowers consist of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Sepals and petals are the vegetative flower organs. Stamens and carpels are the reproductive organs.

Fruit Development, Structure, and Function

Fruit Development, Structure, and Function

Fruits form from a mature flower ovary. As seeds develop from the ovules contained within, the ovary wall undergoes a series of complex changes to form fruit. In some fruits, such as soybeans, the ovary wall dries; in other fruits, such as grapes, it remains fleshy. In some cases, organs other than the ovary contribute to fruit formation; such fruits are called accessory fruits.

Seed Structure and Early Development of the Sporophyte

Seed Structure and Early Development of the Sporophyte

Seed structures are composed of a protective seed coat surrounding a plant embryo, and a food store for the developing embryo. The embryo contains the precursor tissues for leaves, stem, and roots. The endosperm and cotyledons—seed leaves—act as the food reserves for the growing embryo.

Incomplete Dominance

Incomplete Dominance

Gregor Mendel's work (1822 - 1884) was primarily focused on pea plants. Through his initial experiments, he determined that every gene in a diploid cell has two variants called alleles inherited from each parent. He suggested that amongst these two alleles, one allele is dominant in character and the other recessive. The combination of alleles determines the phenotype of a gene in an organism.

The Angiosperm Life Cycle

The Angiosperm Life Cycle

Plants have a life cycle split between two multicellular stages: a haploid stage—with cells containing one set of chromosomes—and a diploid stage—with cells containing two sets of chromosomes. The haploid stage is the gamete-producing gametophyte, and the diploid stage is the spore-producing sporophyte.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Epigenetic regulation of fruit shape determination by the JAGGED gene in Capsella rubella.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Genomic and ecological drivers of parallel arid adaptation in tree grapes (Vitaceae).

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Molecular mechanisms underlying floral trait formation in <i>Phalaenopsis</i> orchids.

Horticulture research·2026

Same author

Plastid and nuclear phylogenomics of Cyphostemma (Vitaceae) provide new insights into genome size evolution across sub-Saharan Africa.

Journal of integrative plant biology·2026

Same author

Evolution of short trichomes and long hairs on Nigella petals through co-option of bHLH and non-MIXTA MYB genes.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Unraveling the extensive phylogenetic discordance and evolutionary history of spurless taxa within the Aquilegia ecalcarata complex.

The New phytologist·2025

Same journal

Correction to: Beyond a plant hormone: ethylene receptors and signaling in microbes.

Journal of experimental botany·2026

Same journal

Single-Cell Atlases as Meta-Analytic Compasses for Developmental Biology: A Case Study Using the Arabidopsis Root.

Journal of experimental botany·2026

Same journal

A sugar flow model predicts cell dynamics, weight and quality of tomato at varying sink-source ratios and temperatures.

Journal of experimental botany·2026

Same journal

Crosstalks between plant proteostasis and chromatin remodeling machineries.

Journal of experimental botany·2026

Same journal

Novel Imaging Approaches for Visualising Root-Mycorrhizal Fungal Interactions.

Journal of experimental botany·2026

Same journal

The ga3ox1b mutation reveals the crosstalk between gibberellin and other phytohormones in controlling the growth and development of female flowers in Cucurbita pepo.

Journal of experimental botany·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 30, 2025

Whole-mount Clearing and Staining of Arabidopsis Flower Organs and Siliques

Whole-mount Clearing and Staining of Arabidopsis Flower Organs and Siliques

Published on: April 12, 2018

Petal development and elaboration.

Xuehao Fu¹, Hongyan Shan¹, Xu Yao¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.

Journal of Experimental Botany

|March 11, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Elaborate petals evolved through four modification pathways, driven by genetic changes in cell growth and polarity. These complex petal structures enhance plant-animal interactions and promote plant group evolution.

Keywords:

Development dorsal elaboration evolution marginal elaboration petal surface elaboration ventral elaboration

More Related Videos

Live Confocal Imaging of Developing Arabidopsis Flowers

Live Confocal Imaging of Developing Arabidopsis Flowers

Published on: April 1, 2017

Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples

Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples

Published on: February 3, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 30, 2025

Whole-mount Clearing and Staining of Arabidopsis Flower Organs and Siliques

Whole-mount Clearing and Staining of Arabidopsis Flower Organs and Siliques

Published on: April 12, 2018

Live Confocal Imaging of Developing Arabidopsis Flowers

Live Confocal Imaging of Developing Arabidopsis Flowers

Published on: April 1, 2017

Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples

Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples

Published on: February 3, 2017

Area of Science:

* Evolutionary developmental biology
* Plant sciences
* Floral evolution

Background:

* Petal complexity varies, ranging from simple to elaborate forms.
* Elaborate petals are hypothesized to drive plant-animal interactions and diversification.
* Recent research has advanced understanding of petal elaboration mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

* To review and compare developmental processes of simple and elaborate petals.
* To identify key evolutionary pathways for petal elaboration.
* To elucidate the genetic and cellular basis of petal complexity.

Main Methods:

* Comparative analysis of petal development.
* Review of recent advances in floral development and evolution.
* Synthesis of findings on genetic regulation and cellular processes.

Main Results:

* Four primary modification pathways identified for elaborate petals: marginal, ventral, dorsal, and surface elaboration.
* Elaborate petals arise from altered gene expression affecting organ polarity and cell proliferation/expansion/differentiation.
* Evolution of elaborate petals involves repurposing existing genetic material.

Conclusions:

* Elaborate petals develop through distinct but convergent modification pathways.
* Genetic changes in cell behavior and polarity are fundamental to petal elaboration.
* Repurposing of genes is a significant evolutionary strategy for developing complex floral structures.