Pattern formation during early floral development

Flowers are central to sexual reproduction in plants. The study of floral development proved tremendously successful in obtaining key insight into processes, such as fate determination, pattern formation, and growth regulation. Recent advances relate to the complex mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between phytohormone signaling, cell and tissue mechanics, and regulatory gene networks that positions floral buds at the apex and directs floral specification, initiation and outgrowth. Furthermore, progress has been made in elucidating the intercellular communication and temporal coordination necessary to organize the behavior of the various functional subdomains within the young flower.