Brandi Zenchyzen

Background: Gynandropsis gynandra (Cleomaceae; formerly Cleome gynandra) is a leafy vegetable widely cultivated across Africa, uniquely positioned at the intersection of agricultural and evo-devo research. It is gaining recognition as an ‘opportunity crop’, valued locally for its nutritional and medicinal properties with ongoing agricultural research aimed at the development of improved cultivars and agronomic practices. Concurrently, its close evolutionary proximity to Arabidopsis thaliana, combined with its contrasting traits, positions G. gynandra as a model for studying C4 photosynthesis and floral development. Despite its relevance to both agricultural and evo-devo research, integration of findings between disciplines remains limited, hindered in part by inconsistent nomenclature and the lack of standardized morphological descriptors. Scope: To address this disconnect, this review synthesizes findings from agricultural and evo-devo research on G. gynandra. We provide an overview of its phylogenetic placement, geographical distribution, agricultural and medicinal applications, phytochemical profile, genomic and genetic resources, and morphological traits. In doing so, we emphasize the duality of G. gynandra as both a crop of agronomic interest and a model for evo-devo studies. Finally, we propose future research directions to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and expedite progress in G. gynandra research. Conclusions: Advances in molecular tools have improved our understanding of the developmental mechanisms underlying key traits and physiological adaptations in G. gynandra, including C4 photosynthesis and antiherbivore defences. Simultaneously, morphological studies have revealed distinctive floral features and substantial phenotypic diversity, offering valuable insights for both breeding initiatives and investigations into floral development. Integrating data and resources from agricultural and evo-devo research will accelerate the improvement of G. gynandra and broaden its utility as a model for understanding trait evolution and development.

Flowering plants showcase a remarkable diversity in floral fragrances, colours, and structures, which function harmoniously as signals to attract and guide pollinators. Like visual signals, the scents emitted by flowers can be associated with the attraction of specific pollinator classes. As such, divergence in floral scent composition can be a key isolation mechanism for speciation. Between continents, the leafy vegetable Gynandropsis gynandra possesses differences in morphology, phenology, foliar chemodiversity, and pollinators. Importantly, G. gynandra is pollinated by hawkmoths in Africa, and bees and butterflies in Asia. Here, we combined chemical, morphological, and transcriptome analyses to assess differences in the floral scent and scent‐releasing structures between African and Asian G. gynandra accessions, and within flowers of the same accession. The prevalence of nitriles and benzenoids in the floral fragrance of the African and Asian accessions, respectively, corresponds to features typically associated with their differing pollinator classes. Further, we uncovered differences in floral epidermal cell morphology, with papillae present on the petal claws and nectary of the African accession and absent (or reduced) for the Asian accession. Through transcriptomic analyses, we showed that the stalk‐like floral structures are putatively involved in terpenoid biosynthesis and emission. However, the epidermal cell morphology and staining suggests that the petals, stamens, and stigma may be involved in scent production of other floral volatile classes (e.g., nitrogen‐containing compounds). These additional phytochemical and morphological distinctions between African and Asian accessions suggest that the divergent forms of G. gynandra may merit taxonomic recognition at subspecies level.

Nature is aglow with numerous captivating examples of UV-fluorescence in the animal kingdom. Despite a putative role as a visual signal, exploration of UV-fluorescence in plants and its role in plant-animal interactions is lagging in comparison. Almost 50 years ago, UV-fluorescence of floral nectar, a crucial reward for pollinators, was reported for 23 flowering plant species. Since this intriguing discovery, UV-fluorescent nectar has only seldom been addressed in the scientific literature and has not been scrutinized in a phylogenetic or ecological context. Here, we report the prevalence of vibrant UV-fluorescent floral nectar across the family Cleomaceae, including the first photographic documentation in vivo colour for flowering plants. Though Cleomaceae flowers are morphologically diverse varying in colour, nectary prominence, and nectar volume, UV-fluorescent floral nectar may be a ubiquitous characteristic of the family. Fluorescence spectra show that the identity and number of fluorescent compounds in floral nectar may differ among Cleomaceae species. As Cleomaceae pollinators range from insects to bats and birds, we suggest that the UV-fluorescent floral nectar not only functions as a visual cue for the diurnal pollinators but also for the nocturnal/crepuscular pollinators in low light settings.

Premise: Flowering plants have evolved a vast array of floral features involved in plant–pollinator interactions. A feature that seemingly increases the chance of pollen transfer is the androgynophore, a stalk‐like structure that raises the reproductive organs of the flower. However, little is known about the developmental and genetic basis of this structure despite its presence in multiple, distantly related taxa. Here, we address this gap by investigating Gynandropsis gynandra (Cleomaceae), a species with a prominent androgynophore.Methods: We combined morphological and anatomical analyses with a comparative transcriptomic study to provide a detailed description of the androgynophore throughout development, examine global gene expression patterns, and identify candidate genes putatively involved in androgynophore elongation.Results: The radially symmetric androgynophore of G. gynandra rapidly lengthens primarily via cell elongation. Despite its structural uniformity, androgynophore development is characterized by complex gene expression patterns including differential expression of floral organ identity genes and genes associated with organ development and growth in Arabidopsis thaliana.Conclusions: Our morphological characterizations and high‐quality transcriptome for G. gynandra suggest that the androgynophore is a novel structure formed via elaboration of both the receptacle and base of reproductive organs because it is structurally like an elongated internode but expresses the genetic repertoire typically associated with the reproductive organs. The drastic increase in cell length and uniform structure elevates the androgynophore as a potentially powerful model for cell elongation.

Floral nectaries have evolved multiple times and rapidly diversified with the adaptive radiation of animal pollinators. As such, floral nectaries exhibit extraordinary variation in location, size, shape, and secretory mechanism. Despite the intricate ties to pollinator interactions, floral nectaries are often overlooked in morphological and developmental studies. As Cleomaceae exhibits substantial floral diversity, our objective was to describe and compare floral nectaries between and within genera. Floral nectary morphology was assessed through scanning electron microscopy and histology across three developmental stages of nine Cleomaceae species including representatives for seven genera. A modified fast green and safranin O staining protocol was used to yield vibrant sections without highly hazardous chemicals. Cleomaceae floral nectaries are most commonly receptacular, located between the perianth and stamens. The floral nectaries are supplied by vasculature, often contain nectary parenchyma, and have nectarostomata. Despite the shared location, components, and secretory mechanism, the floral nectaries display dramatic diversity in size and shape, ranging from adaxial protrusions or concavities to annular disks. Our data reveal substantive lability in form with both adaxial and annular floral nectaries interspersed across Cleomaceae. Floral nectaries contribute to the vast morphological diversity of Cleomaceae flowers and so are valuable for taxonomic descriptions. Though Cleomaceae floral nectaries are often derived from the receptacle and receptacular nectaries are common across flowering plants, the role of the receptacle in floral evolution and diversification is overlooked and warrants further exploration.

Nectaries are a promising frontier for plant evo-devo research, and are particularly fascinating given their diversity in form, position, and secretion methods across angiosperms. Emerging model systems permit investigations of the molecular basis for nectary development and nectar secretion across a range of taxa, which addresses fundamental questions about underlying parallelisms and convergence. Herein, we explore nectary development and nectar secretion in the emerging model taxa, Cleome violacea (Cleomaceae), which exhibits a prominent adaxial nectary. First, we characterized nectary anatomy and quantified nectar secretion to establish a foundation for quantitative and functional gene experiments. Next, we leveraged RNA-seq to establish gene expression profiles of nectaries across three key stages of development: pre-anthesis, anthesis, and post-fertilization. We then performed functional studies on five genes that were putatively involved in nectary and nectar formation: CvCRABSCLAW (CvCRC), CvAGAMOUS (CvAG), CvSHATTERPROOF (CvSHP), CvSWEET9, and a highly expressed but uncharacterized transcript. These experiments revealed a high degree of functional convergence to homologues from other core Eudicots, especially Arabidopsis. CvCRC, redundantly with CvAG and CvSHP, are required for nectary initiation. Concordantly, CvSWEET9 is essential for nectar formation and secretion, which indicates that the process is eccrine based in C. violacea. While demonstration of conservation is informative to our understanding of nectary evolution, questions remain. For example, it is unknown which genes are downstream of the developmental initiators CvCRC, CvAG, and CvSHP, or what role the TCP gene family plays in nectary initiation in this family. Further to this, we have initiated a characterization of associations between nectaries, yeast, and bacteria, but more research is required beyond establishing their presence. Cleome violacea is an excellent model for continued research into nectary development because of its conspicuous nectaries, short generation time, and close taxonomic distance to Arabidopsis.

o-Toluic acid, a photo-oxidation product in the atmosphere, and its monohydrate were characterized in the gas phase by pure rotational spectroscopy. High-resolution spectra were measured in the range of 5–14 Hz using a cavity-based molecular beam Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer. Possible conformers were identified computationally, at the MP2/6-311++G(2df,2pd) level of theory. For both species, one conformer was identified experimentally, and no methyl internal rotation splittings were observed, indicative of relatively high barriers to rotation. In the monomer, rocking of the carboxylic acid group is a large amplitude motion, characterized by a symmetrical double-well potential. This and other low-lying out-of-plane vibrations contribute to a significant (methyl top-corrected) inertial defect (−1.09 amu Ų). In the monohydrate, wagging of the free hydrogen atom of water is a second large amplitude motion, so the average structure is planar. As a result, no c-type transitions were observed. Water tunneling splittings were not observed, because the water rotation coordinate is characterized by an asymmetrical double-well potential. Since the minima are not degenerate, tunneling is precluded. Furthermore, a concerted tunneling path involving simultaneous rotation of the water moiety and rocking of the carboxylic acid group is precluded, because the hilltop along this coordinate is a virtual, rather than a real, saddle-point. Inter- and intramolecular non-covalent bonding is discussed in terms of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules. The percentage of o-toluic acid hydrated in the atmosphere is estimated to be about 0.1% using statistical thermodynamics.

High-resolution pure rotational spectra of four alkylnaphthalenes were measured in the range of 6–15 GHz using a molecular-beam Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer. Both a- and b-type transitions were observed for 1-methylnaphthalene (1-MN), 1,2-dimethylnaphthalene (1,2-DMN), and 1,3-dimethylnaphthalene (1,3-DMN); only a-type transitions were observed for 2-methylnaphthalene (2-MN). Geometry optimization and vibrational analysis calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory aided in the assignments of the spectra and the characterization of the structures. Differences between the experimental and predicted rotational constants are small, and they can be attributed in part to low-lying out-of-plane vibrations, which distort the alkylnaphthalenes out of their equilibrium geometries. Splittings of rotational lines due to methyl internal rotation were observed in the spectra of 2-MN, 1,2-DMN, and 1,3-DMN, and allowed for the determination of the barriers to methyl internal rotation, which are compared to values from density functional theory calculations. All four species are moderately polar, so they are candidate species for detection by radio astronomy, by targeting the transition frequencies reported here.