Figure 1

SpAP3 silenced flowers. Wild type spinach male flower (a) has four stamen (one designated with arrow) and four sepals (one designated with arrow). Wild type female flowers (b) with two sepals (one marked) that envelop the central carpel (marked) which develops a single ovuled ovary with usually four stigmatic arms. Flowers from pWSRi:SpAP3 treated plants (c through f). c and d. Stigmas from the developing carpels (arrows) are visible in the third whorl, along with stamens (arrows). In flower shown in c, there are an unusual six stigmatic arms. e. A hermaphroditic flower with a carpel developing in the fourth whorl, surrounding by four stamens and four sepals. f. A flower with a central (fourth whorl) carpeloid organ surrounded by four sepals. Abbreviations: st, stamens; se, sepals; c, carpel; s, stigma.