A Novel Single-Nucleotide Mutation in a CLAVATA3 Gene Homolog Controls a Multilocular Silique Trait in Brassica rapa L

Dear Editor, Brassica rapa is an important crop and a model plant for studying Brassica genome evolution and gene function. The silique of B. rapa derived from the gynoecium nor- mally consists of two carpels that are separated by a false septum, and thus has two Iocules （bilocular）. Multilocular （more than two carpels） lines of B. rapa have been discov- ered in nature and are considered advantageous because the multilocular type could potentially increase the seed yield by producing more seeds per silique than the biloc- ular type. However, the molecular basis of the important seed vield-related trait is ooorlv understood.