Recurrent Hermaphroditism and Sex-Biased ABCDE Gene Expression Reveal Latent Floral Plasticity in the Pedunculate Oak Lineage (Q. robur s.l.).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The development of unisexual flowers relies on the tight coordination of flower organ identity and sex determination. The genus Quercus is typically considered strictly monoecious, bearing fully segregated male and female flowers within the same individual tree. However, several reports of atypical flowering across the genus challenge this prevailing view, suggesting that flowering in oaks may be more flexible than traditionally assumed. In this work, the dynamics of flower development in Quercus orocantabrica were examined to correlate contrasting floral morphologies with divergent molecular profiles.

METHODS: The flowering phenology of Q. orocantabrica trees was closely monitored over several individuals and years, together with a detailed floral morphological analysis of male, female and atypical flowers. Key floral homeotic gene homologues were identified, and their expression assayed in the development of different flowers.

KEY RESULTS: Recurrent and widespread hermaphroditic flowering was detected in several Q. orocantabrica trees, frequently associated with unseasonal flowering events. Gene expression analysis of male, female and hermaphroditic flowers revealed a sex-biased expression of Q. orocantabrica B- and C-class genes, with the B-class gene QoPI in particular being tightly associated with the presence of fully-developed stamens. In addition, the expression of the C-class gene QoSHP contrasted with reports in other Fagaceae, highlighting a potential functional divergence of the C/D-class lineage within the family.

CONCLUSIONS: The results here depicted indicate that the dynamics of floral sex identity in oaks are more plastic than traditionally assumed, supporting a reinterpretation of oak reproductive biology based on a versatile and resilient framework responsive to different developmental contexts.