MIKCC-type MADS-box genes in Rosa chinensis: the remarkable expansion of ABCDE model genes and their roles in floral organogenesis

Genetics: How to build a rose Roses have been prized throughout history for their beauty and now we’re closer to understanding the genetics underpinning their appearance. MIKCc genes encode transcription factors and have long been implicated in flower organ development; they fall into five classes, the precise combination of which underpins the type of flower that develops. Changquan Wang at Nanjing Agricultural University in China and colleagues compared MIKCc gene transcripts from roses with those from Arabidopsis and strawberries, identifying certain genes that were remarkably expanded, and others that were missing. They also compared MIKCc genes from Old Blush roses with those from their mutant relative Viridiflora, pinpointing specific genes which appeared altered. Further characterization of such genes may enable a better understanding of why rose flowers differ and aid the design of even more beautiful varieties.