Divergent gene expression networks underlie morphological diversity of abscission zones in grasses

What is it about?

Seeds of grasses are shed along with other floral structures, a process controlled by formation of specialized cells, known as an abscission zone, below the parts to be released. The specific set of floral structures and hence the position of the specialized cells differs among genera. The list of genes that could affect abscission zone formation is long and largely shared among species. However, only two of those genes are specific to the abscission zone itself in all species. All other genes differ in the details of their expression patterns and presumed function.

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