FRUIT LOOK · The physiology and genetics of fruit formation: from genes to networks

The fruit is the result of the development of the ovary and it is a major evolutionary acquisition of flowering plants. Fruits likely evolved to protect the developing seeds and to ensure seed dispersal adopting an incredible array of morphologies and inventing many types of mechanisms for seed dispersal. Dry dehiscent fruits mechanically disperse the seeds, while fleshy fruits develop tasty tissues that induce fauna to eat them and therefore act as the dispersal agent. Dry dehiscent fruits (those that dry and open at maturity to release the seeds), correspond to the ancestral type of fruit (Knapp, 2002), however the fruit of the model specie Arabidopsis thaliana, the silique, with its specialized dehiscence zone, is a more recent evolutionary conquer.The overarching objective of this proposal ”The physiology and genetics of fruit formation: from genes to networks” (FRUIT-look), aims to strengthen research partnerships through short period staff exchanges and networking activities between European research organisations and American organisations. The research topic of this exchange programme concerns fruit formation.FRUIT LOOK aims to address the following key questions:Which are the genetic and molecular networks regulating fruit formation and morphology?Do plant hormones act as morphogens during fruit development?Can we elaborate a model able to explain fruit forms?