Fig. 6

Over-expression of KSK leads to partial homeotic conversion of petals to stamenoid structures and leads to reduced auxin responses. a SEM (upper) and bright field (lower) image of a petal from a 35S::KSK transgenic line showing stamenoid features such as a pollen sac. The scale bar represents 100 μm. b SEM of petal epidermal cells from a 35S::KSK transgenic line showing a stomata. The scale bar represents 10 μm. c Relative expression of ANT in Col-0 and 35S::KSK OE1, OE2 and OE3 developing petals. Expression levels are relative to EF1ALPHA gene expression. Data are given as means of +/−SE (n = 3 biological replicates. P values were determined by Student’s t-test. ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001. d Nuclear localisation of DII-Venus (middle panel) and mDII-Tomato (lower panel) from transiently expressed R2D2 in Col-0 petal protoplasts. The upper panel is the imaged protoplast in bright field. e Ratios of mDII-Tomato to DII-Venus transiently expressed in Col-O or 35S::KSK petal protoplasts. Protoplasts from line OE1 were treated with 0 nM or 1000 nM IAA for 1–2 h before imaging. The increased ratio of mDII/DII shows reduced levels of DII-Venus in response to elevated auxin levels. n = 25 protoplasts were measured for each treatment in each of two independent experiments. P values were determined by Student’s t-test. ** P < 0.001. f. f and g. Reduced expression of the auxin-responsive genes IAA1 (Panel F) and IAA9 (Panel g) in developing petals of Col-0 and three transgenic lines overexpressing KSK. Expression levels are relative to EF1ALPHA gene expression. Data are given as means of +/−SE (n = 3 biological replicates. P values were determined by Student’s t-test. ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001