The developmental and genetic basis of explosive pod-shatter in cardamine hirsuta

Thesis

Dispersal is a key trait across biology. Within plants, a variety of explosive seed dispersal mechanisms are seen. Whilst ecological and mechanical studies have described this important evolutionary adaptation in many species, a genetic and developmental understanding of explosive seed dispersal is lacking.

In this thesis, the morphology and development of the explosive seed pods of Cardamine hirsuta – a member of the Brassicaceae – are characterised in detail, with reference to its...

Expand abstract

Authors: Sarchet, P

• Publication date: 2012
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; fruit morphology; gynoecium; fruit development; Cardamine hirsuta; seed dispersal; FRUITFULL; pod shatter
• Subjects: Cell Biology (plants); Comparative developmental genetics (plants); Biology