La morphogenese florale chez le petunia. I. Analyse d'un mutant a corolle staminee

The blind mutant of Petunia hybrida Hort. is characterized by a flower with a highly modified corolla: the much reduced or lacking corolla tube lamina is replaced by five supernumerary anthers, which produce scarce but fertile pollen. The ontogenic study of stamen and corolla formation shows the existence of three separate morphogenetic patterns corresponding to the development of undifferentiated appendages, the formation of pollen sacs or floral appendages, and the final intercalary growth (filament and corolla tube elongation), respectively. A first interpretative scheme of the floral morphogenesis is proposed and discussed.