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Abstract
OVATE is highly expressed in young floral organ primordia. Wild tomato nearly isogenic lines with ovate/sov1 mutations produce pear-shaped fruit. TONNEAU1 Recruiting Motif (TRM) proteins are part of the OVATE FAMILY PROTEIN (OFP)-TRM complex regulating tomato fruit shape, and are part of the TONNEAU1 (TON1), TRM, Phosphatase PP2A (TTP) complex which is involved in the regulation of plant cell division patterns. OVATE-TRM3/4-TON1b protein subcellular localizations were examined in tobacco. When these proteins are co-expressed, they colocalize in the cytosol instead of the microtubules like TRM3/4. Interaction mutants of OVATE and TRM3/4 co-expressed with TON1b also colocalize in the cytosol. OVATE can re-localize the TRM/TON protein complex independent of its interaction with TRM3/4. Young flower buds were examined of ovate/sov1, ovate/sov1/trm5, and wild type LA1589 accessions. Bud shape differences between the accessions were apparent at 7 days post initiation. These results suggest that OVATE affects ovary patterning early in gynoecium development.