Molecular Mechanisms of Flower Development and Plant Reproduction

Dear Colleagues,

The molecular mechanisms of flower development and plant reproduction are complex and delicate processes involving the interaction of multiple genes and proteins. The gene-level regulation is central to this process, including genes that control when and how flowers develop, forming networks that coordinate flower form and function. The protein-level regulation also plays a key role, particularly transcription factors, splicing factors and signal transduction proteins, which control the expression of specific genes and transmit signals between cells and even distant parts of the plant. Additionally, environmental factors such as photoperiod, temperature and nutritional conditions affect flowering which, in many cases, occur through the production of alternatively spliced transcripts. In due course, the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is a key stage in the plant life cycle, and it involves the conversion of the vegetative shoot apical meristem to floral meristem, which in turn leads to the development of flower organs. Compatible pollen–pistil interactions allow fertilization to occur and ultimately determine the production of fruits and seeds. These complex molecular mechanisms ensure the reproductive success of plants.

This Special Issue highlights our latest understanding of the molecular mechanisms of flower development and plant reproduction. We welcome all articles (original research, methods, opinions and reviews) on these topics.

Dr. Maria Helena S. Goldman
Dr. Maria Manuela Ribeiro Costa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• gene expression
• protein–protein interaction
• transcription factor
• splicing factor
• environmental cues
• alternative splicing
• signal transduction
• inflorescence meristem
• flower meristem
• flower organ development
• pollen–pistil interaction
• fruit development