In an abnormal female inflorescence from a mantled clonal palm, the male reproductive organs develop into pseudocarpels. Transcriptomes of microdissected male and female reproductive organs in a normal inflorescence were thus compared to identify genes that were differentially expressed during the normal development of these two reproductive organs. Besides the increased expression of stamen identity MADS- box genes EgDEF1, EgGLO1 and EgGLO2 in male reproductive organs, NAC and homeodomain leucine- zipper type of transcription factors were also upregulated. Male reproductive organ development may be associated with increased ethylene and decreased bioactive gibberellin levels inferred from the increased expression levels of ACC OXIDASE and GA 2-OXIDASE genes. This expression pattern may be important for the impending developmental arrest of the staminodes as they do not develop into stamens. Early carpel development occurred in conjunction with increased expression of the floral meristem identity LEAFY and organ boundary specification CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON 2 (CUC2) genes. Hence, genes important for male reproductive organ development and early carpel development were identified using precise isolation of specific reproductive organs.

Ooi, S. -., Sarpan, N., Aziz, N. A., Nuraziyan, A., Nor-Azwani, A. B., & Ong-Abdullah, M. (2020). Transcriptomics of microdissected staminodes and early developing carpels from female inflorescences of elaeis guineensis. Journal of Oil Palm Research, 32(4), 559-568. doi:10.21894/jopr.2020.0036