DEVELOPMENTAL HOMEOSTASIS AND FLORAL FORM - EVOLUTIONARY CONSEQUENCESAND GENETIC-BASIS

Plant biologists have largely ignored the role of developmental homeos tasis in the evolution of floral traits. In this brief review, we disc uss the relationship between floral form and developmental homeostasis , emphasizing that developmental homeostasis, as any other character, may respond to natural selection. We discuss the implications of devel opmental homeostasis being a selectively labile trait for the evolutio n of floral characters. A trait's ability to respond to selection is i n part determined by its genetic basis. Therefore, we also discuss evi dence for the genetic basis of developmental homeostasis and how it in fluences the evolution of developmental homeostasis and ultimately flo ral diversity. We conclude with a series of suggestions for future res earch, calling for a synthetic approach utilizing ecological, morpholo gical, quantitative genetic, and molecular methodologies.