The Other Giant: Functional Significance and Divergence of Type I MADS-Box Genes in the Evolution of Land Plants

Angiosperms represent the most abundant and diverse lineage of land plants, and their evolutionary success is closely linked to major reproductive innovations, including the origin of flowers and the embryo-nourishing endosperm. Many of the genes underlying these innovations belong to the MADS-box transcription factor family. While the functions of MIKCC-type MADS-box genes in floral development are well established, this review focuses on the other two lineages, M-type and MIKC*-type genes, and