floralmeristematische

Floralmeristematische is an adjective used in plant biology to refer to aspects of the floral meristem, the tissue that forms during the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth and gives rise to the four whorls of floral organs: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. The term is commonly encountered in German-language literature and is sometimes used to describe traits, processes, or regulatory networks specific to floral meristem development.

Development of the floral meristem occurs after the shoot apical meristem transitions to reproductive growth. The floral meristem behaves determinately, producing a limited set of organs before ceasing activity. The meristem’s termination is driven by floral identity and homeotic gene activity, with the C-function genes playing a central role; this determinacy contrasts with the indeterminate nature of the vegetative shoot meristem.

Genetic regulation of the floral meristem involves a network of floral meristem identity genes, including LFY, AP1, CAL, and the SEP gene family, which interact with WUSCHEL and AGAMOUS to specify floral fate and terminate the meristem. The ABCE model describes how combinations of A, B, C, and E functions specify Sepal, Petal, Stamen, and Carpel identities, respectively, with E providing necessary compatibility. WUSCHEL maintains the shoot meristem in other contexts, while in floral meristems AG represses WUS to promote determinacy.

Applications of the study of floralmeristematische processes include insights for breeding, control of flowering time, and variation in floral organ number. The concept is central to model species such as Arabidopsis and to crops where manipulation of floral identity affects yield and quality.