Fig. 2.

Abscission occurs prematurely in nev evr flowers. Progression of flower development in wild-type, nev, nev evr and evr plants from the first open flower to maturing fruit. (A-D) From the first open flower (position 1), stages were assessed for up to 10 flowers per inflorescence (n=15 inflorescences per genotype). For each position, the percentage of flowers at each stage is shown. In wild-type flowers (A), organ separation (stage 16) is first observed at position 5.7±1.0. By position 8, all flowers have shed their organs (stage 17). nev flowers (B) retain their floral organs and are labeled as NS (non-shedding, stage 16 on). In nev evr flowers (C), organ separation (stage 15*) is first observed at position 3.4±0.5 and is complete by position 6. In evr flowers (D), organ separation (stage 16) is first observed at position 5.9±0.8 and is complete by position 9. (E-H) evr-2 fruit (stage 17; 8.7±0.3 mm; n=11) are 79% the length of wild type (11.0±0.5 mm; n=11). nev-3 evr-2 fruit (6.4±0.3 mm; n=13) are 88% the length of nev-3 fruit (7.3±0.5 mm; n=15). Scale bars: 5 mm.