Abstract
Distyly is a widespread phenomenon in flowering plants that enhances pollination accuracy and improves plant environmental adaptability. Primula, the first genus in which distyly is discovered, has become a model system for studying this trait. There are currently many studies on the origin and evolution of distyly in Primula, but there remains relatively little research on the molecular mechanisms and related gene functions that regulate distyly. This study first observed the anatomy of the organs of P. vulgaris and clarified that the important turning points in producing distyly were when the flower bud length was 3-4 mm and 10-11 mm, respectively. Based on flower organ observation results, a transcriptome analysis was conducted on the pistil at three different stages. Our results identify a list of candidate genes acting on pistil dimorphism, in particular CYP734A50 for the early development of pistil and genes related to plant hormone signal transduction for the late stage of pistil development. These findings not only advance our understanding of the molecular regulation of distyly in Primula but also provide new insights for studying distyly mechanisms in other plant species.