Fig. 2

Expression profile of CbuSPL9 in the flower buds and leaf buds during the developmental periods of C. bungei. T1-T3 represents the flowering buds and leaf buds collected in the dormant period; T4-T5 represents the flowering buds and leaf buds collected in the germination period; T6-T9 represents the flowering buds and leaf buds collected in the floral transition period; and T10-T12 represents the flowering buds and leaf buds collected in the reproductive period. D1: Image of flowering buds in the dormant period; D2: Image of leaf buds in the dormant period; G1: Image of flowering buds in the germination period; G2: Image of leaf buds in the germination period; F1: Section of flowering buds in the floral transition period; note the flat generative apex (Ga); F2: Section of leaf buds in floral transition period, note the bulged vegetative apex (V); R1: Image of flowering buds in the reproductive period; and R2: Image of leaf buds in the reproductive period. Notably, even though floral transition was never observed in the leaf buds, the leaf buds collected in the period corresponding to floral transition are henceforth called F2 and R2 for convenience. Error bars indicate SD from three independent biological replicates. *Difference between flowering buds (black) and leaf buds (gray) is significant (Student’s test; p < 0.05). **Difference between flowering buds (black) and leaf buds (gray) is highly significant (Student’s test; p < 0.01)