RhAGL24 Regulating Auxin-Related Gene RhARF18 Affects Stamen Petaloidy in Rose

AGAMOUS-LIKE 24 (AGL24) is a key gene regulating floral transition, but its involvement in flower organ identity remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that RhAGL24 is strongly related to petal and stamen development in rose. Its expression increases rapidly at the petal primordium development stage and maintains a high level until the complete differentiation stage. RhAGL24 silencing increases the number of malformed petals and decreases the number of stamens, indicating that this gene affects stamen petaloidy. RhAG (AGAMOUS), a class C gene associated with petal and stamen development, is downregulated in RhAGL24-silenced plants. Moreover, we found that RhAGL24 could directly bind to the promoter region of RhARF18 (AUXIN RESPONSE FACTORS 18), a regulator of RhAG. Our results suggested that RhAGL24-RhARF18 module regulates stamen petaloidy in rose and provide new insights into the function of AGL24 for plants.