Hans Sommer, J.P. Beltran, Peter Huijser, H. Pape, Wolf-Ekkehard Lonnig, Heinz Saedler, and Zsuzsanna Schwarz-Sommer. 1990.

Deficiens, a homeotic gene involved in the control of flower morphogenesis in Antirrhinum majus: the protein shows homology to transcriptions factors. The EMBO Journal 9: 605-613.

Background: This paper was the first to demonstrate (closely followed by Yanofsky et al., 1990) that a gene responsible for floral organ identity encoded a MADS box transcription factor. This was the first demonstration that, like animals, plants govern key patterning processes by the differential expression of transcription factors, but, unlike animals, accomplish this goal using a distinct class of transcription factors. This paper, and much subsequent work, has led to a huge literature on the evolution and function of MADS box transcription factors as key regulators of a variety of plant developmental processes.

Martin F. Yanofsky, Hong Ma, John L. Bowman, Gary N. Drews, Kenneth A. Feldmann, and Elliot M. Meyerowitz. 1990. The protein encoded by the Arabidopsis homeotic gene AGAMOUS resembles transcription factors. Nature 346(6279): 35-39. abstract | article in pdf format

 

submitted by: Vivian Irish

Access to article: abstract on PubMed

 

Taylor A. Steeves and Ian M. Sussex. 1989.

Patterns in Plant Development. Cambridge University Press.

Background: This is a classic text that is a must for any student of plant development. While it is somewhat dated in that molecular events are by and large not addressed, it is unsurpassed in giving the reader an in depth view of the morphological changes driving plant developmental processes.

 

submitted by: Vivian Irish

Access to article: volume at Cambridge University Press