Molecular systems biology of novel flower colour evolution

One of the key mechanisms that has shaped the diversity of flowering plants is pollination. Animal pollinator-driven speciation often involves dramatic flower colour changes. Remarkably, the shifts into and out of green flowers is one common, but overlooked evolutionary shift that remains a mystery. This study will take advantage of unique Australian plants to investigate the molecular mechanisms underpinning this phenomenon. Key outcomes of this study include the elucidation of the floral pigment, gene, and regulatory networks involved and the establishment of functional genetic changes for the first time. Furthermore, this study will reveal how some plants evolve unique floral colour signals during speciation and lineage diversification.