Understanding the Mechanism of Trichome Development in Hibiscus trionum

BBSRC strategic theme: Bioscience for sustainable agriculture and food

The colorful patterns on the petals of flowering plants are crucial for attracting pollinators and directly contribute to the reproductive success of a species. These patterns are highly intricate, combining variations in pigmentation, shape, and texture of the cells that comprise the petal epidermis. Additionally, petal patterns involve the production of 'hairs' known as trichomes, which exhibit remarkable diversity in terms of morphology, distribution, and functions, although this diversity is not extensively studied. Trichomes emerge as epidermal cells acquire distinct 'trichome fates' based on their location in the petal, yet the mechanisms governing this process are not fully understood.

To investigate how distinct trichome patterns arise, I will use Hibiscus trionum, which exhibits seven trichome types that vary in morphology, position on the petal, as well as in number and spacing. Consequently, the petal of H. trionum serves as an excellent model system for studying the processes underlying the development of diverse trichome morphologies and spatial distributions within a single species. Initially, I will characterize the formation and spatial patterning of each trichome type during petal development. Subsequently, I will explore the gene regulatory networks responsible for governing the formation and distribution of these distinct trichome types. Finally, I will begin to investigate the potential functions of one of these trichome forms, glandular trichomes, in addition to exploring the evolutionary processes that give rise to trichome diversity.