Abstract
In monocots, the mechanism of floral organ specification is less understood. In rice, mutations in the dl locus show homeotic conversion of carpels into stamens. We have reported previously that DL encodes a YABBY family protein and is expressed specifically in carpel primordium.
In this study, we dissected the genetic relationships of DL with the ABC MADS-box genes by molecular genetic approaches using floral homeotic mutants and transgenic plants. Our results indicate that DL is essential for carpel specification and interacts antagonistically with the B-function genes.
Approaches to isolate knock-out lines of C-function genes such as AG homologs is in progress to reveal the roles of C function genes in rice carpel specification and the relationships with DL.
