Fig. 1

The slf mutant shows deficiencies in floral organ identity. a The floral phenotypes of WT and slf. b Transverse and longitudinal sections (stained with toluidine blue) of WT and slf flowers at developmental stage 18. Red and black numbers indicate the number of stamens and locules, respectively; red asterisks indicate the conversion of the stamens into pistils in the third whorl. c The fruit of WT and slf. Green triangles indicate rough radial lines caused by the formation of vestigial stamen-like structures. d Percentage of the flowers with 0–6 stamens in WT and slf. e Quantification of sepals, petals, stamens and carpels in WT and slf. The vestigial stamen-like structure in slf is counted as the stamen; the carpelloid stamen in slf is counted as the carpel. The data represent means ±SD (n = 296). f A schematic diagram of the floral organs in WT and slf. The WT flower consists of four whorls: sepal (green), petal (orange), stamen (yellow and blue solid line), and carpel (purple). The slf flower consists of sepals (green) in the 1st whorl, petals (orange) in the 2nd whorl, carpelloid stamens (purple) with or without stunted stamens (yellow and blue dotted line) in the 3rd whorl, and ectopic shoot/floral meristem in the 4th whorl (red circular). g Ectopic shoot/floral meristems emerge in the flower, and ectopic shoots produce flowers and leaf-like structures in the fruit, longitudinal sections of the slf flowers show ectopic meristem stained with toluidine blue at the floral developmental stage 14. es/fm: ectopic shoot/floral meristem; es: ectopic stem; ef: ectopic flower; el: ectopic leaf; ec: ectopic carpel. Scale bars: (a, b, g) 1 mm