TCP-domain proteins, plant specific transcription factors, play important roles in various developmental processes. CIN-TCPs control leaf curvature in simple leaf species while regulate leaf complexity in compound leaf species. However, the knowledge was largely based on findings in few model species. To extend our knowledge on this group of proteins in Solanaceae species, we identified a CIN-TCP gene from petunia, and studied its functions using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). Consistently, silencing of CIN-TCPs increases complexity of tomato leaves, and enhances leaf curvature in Nicotiana benthamiana. However, in petunia (Petunia hybrida), silencing of petunia LA, a CIN-TCP, through VIGS did not obviously affect leaf shape. The silencing, however, enhanced petal curvature. The event was associated with petal expansion at the distal portion where epidermal cell size along the midribs was also increased. The enlarged epidermal cells became flattened. Although shapes of PhLA-silenced flowers largely resemble phmyb1 mutant phenotype, PhMYB1 expression was not affected when PhLA was specifically silenced. Therefore, both PhLA and PhMYB1 are required to regulate flower morphology. In corolla, PhLA and miR319 deferentially express in different regions with strong expressions in limb and tube region respectively. In conclusion, unlike LA-like genes in tomato and N. benthamiana, PhLA plays a more defined role in flower morphogenesis, including petal curvature and epidermal cell differentiation.

中文翻译：

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PhLA（一种CIN-TCP基因）的沉默导致缺损的花瓣圆锥形表皮细胞形成，并导致矮牵牛的反射花冠裂片。

TCP域蛋白（植物特有的转录因子）在各种发育过程中起着重要作用。CIN-TCP控制简单叶片物种的叶片曲率，同时调节复合叶片物种的叶片复杂性。但是，该知识主要基于少数模型物种的发现。为了扩展我们对茄科植物蛋白的认识，我们从矮牵牛中鉴定了一个CIN-TCP基因，并使用病毒诱导的基因沉默（VIGS）研究了其功能。一致地，CIN-TCP的沉默增加了番茄叶片的复杂性，并增加了本氏烟草的叶片曲率。但是，在矮牵牛（Petunia hybrida）中，通过VIGS对矮牵牛LA（CIN-TCP）进行沉默不会明显影响叶片形状。但是，消音增强了花瓣曲率。该事件与远端部分的花瓣扩张有关，沿着中脉的表皮细胞大小也增加了。扩大的表皮细胞变得扁平。虽然PhLA沉默的花的形状在很大程度上类似于phmyb1突变体表型，但是当PhLA被特异性沉默时，PhMYB1的表达不会受到影响。因此，PhLA和PhMYB1都需要调节花的形态。在花冠中，PhLA和miR319在不同区域中差异表达，分别在肢体和管区域中强烈表达。总之，与番茄和本氏烟草中的LA样基因不同，PhLA在花的形态发生中具有更明确的作用，包括花瓣弯曲和表皮细胞分化。尽管PhLA沉默的花的形状在很大程度上类似于phmyb1突变体表型，但是当PhLA被特异性沉默时，PhMYB1的表达不会受到影响。因此，PhLA和PhMYB1都需要调节花的形态。在花冠中，PhLA和miR319在不同区域中差异表达，分别在肢体和管区域中强烈表达。总之，与番茄和本氏烟草中的LA样基因不同，PhLA在花的形态发生中具有更明确的作用，包括花瓣弯曲和表皮细胞分化。尽管PhLA沉默的花的形状在很大程度上类似于phmyb1突变体表型，但是当PhLA被特异性沉默时，PhMYB1的表达不会受到影响。因此，PhLA和PhMYB1都需要调节花的形态。在花冠中，PhLA和miR319在不同区域中差异表达，分别在肢体和管区域中强烈表达。总之，与番茄和本氏烟草中的LA样基因不同，PhLA在花的形态发生中具有更明确的作用，包括花瓣弯曲和表皮细胞分化。PhLA和miR319在不同区域差异表达，分别在肢体和管区域表达强。总之，与番茄和本氏烟草中的LA样基因不同，PhLA在花的形态发生中具有更明确的作用，包括花瓣弯曲和表皮细胞分化。PhLA和miR319在不同区域差异表达，分别在肢体和管区域表达强烈。总之，与番茄和本氏烟草中的LA样基因不同，PhLA在花的形态发生中具有更明确的作用，包括花瓣弯曲和表皮细胞分化。