（封面圖片：矮牽牛花Petunia hybrida為科學(xué)家研究聚傘花序的發(fā)生機制提供了一種很好的模型,。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)一種被稱為EVERGREEN的WOX基因是聚傘花序結(jié)構(gòu)產(chǎn)生的關(guān)鍵因子,。）
植物種類根據(jù)它們各自開花的時間和地點而發(fā)生分化?；芡ㄟ^頂端分生組織（apical meristem）,、側(cè)生分生組織（lateral meristem）分別產(chǎn)生，也可以通過以上兩者同時產(chǎn)生,，這就分別產(chǎn)生了三種主要的花序種類：總狀花序（raceme）,、聚傘花序（cyme）以及圓錐花序（panicle）。其中產(chǎn)生總狀花序結(jié)構(gòu)的機制已經(jīng)在擬南芥（Arabidopsis）和金魚草（Antirrhinum）中得到解釋,，而為了了解聚傘花序結(jié)構(gòu)是如何產(chǎn)生的,，來自荷蘭的Rebocho等科學(xué)家研究了改變矮牽牛花序的一些基因變異,，并且將研究的結(jié)果以封面文章的形式發(fā)表在2008年9月16日出版的《發(fā)育細胞》（Developmental Cell）上,。
在研究中科學(xué)家們發(fā)現(xiàn)，一種被稱為EVERGREEN（EVG）的基因負責編譯一種WOX同源結(jié)構(gòu)域蛋白,，這種蛋白只在初始側(cè)生花序分生組織（IMs）中得到表達,，并且促使它們從頂端花分生組織（FM）中分離出來。在聚傘花序結(jié)構(gòu)中,，花序最終將形成一種典型的聚傘狀Z字形構(gòu)造,，而導(dǎo)致矮牽牛花的聚傘狀花序結(jié)構(gòu)最終變?yōu)閱紊ǖ淖儺愅耆种屏薳vg基因,。
最終科學(xué)家表示,，數(shù)據(jù)顯示EVG基因在花序結(jié)構(gòu)的變化方面起到了至關(guān)重要的作用，并且研究結(jié)果還顯示出在分生組織的增殖以及種類特征之間存在一種出人意料的聯(lián)系,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Developmental Cell,，Vol 15, 437-447, 16 September 2008，Alexandra B. Rebocho, Ronald Koes
Role of EVERGREEN in the Development of the Cymose Petunia Inflorescence
Alexandra B. Rebocho,Mattijs Bliek,Elske Kusters,Rob Castel,Antonia Procissi,Ilja Roobeek,Erik Souer,and Ronald Koes,
Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Experimental Plant Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, de Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Plants species diverge with regard to the time and place where they make flowers. Flowers can develop from apical meristems, lateral meristems, or both, resulting in three major inflorescence types known as racemes, cymes, and panicles, respectively. The mechanisms that determine a racemose architecture have been uncovered inArabidopsis and Antirrhinum. To understand how cymes are specified, we studied mutations that alter the petunia inflorescence. Here we show that EVERGREEN (EVG) encodes a WOX homeodomain protein, which is exclusively expressed in incipient lateral inflorescence meristems (IMs), promoting their separation from the apical floral meristem (FM). This is essential for activation of DOUBLE TOP and specification of floral identity. Mutations that change the cymose petunia inflorescence into a solitary flower fully suppress the evg phenotype. Our data suggest a key role for EVG in the diversification of inflorescence architectures and reveal an unanticipated link between the proliferation and identity of meristems.
