Comparative transcriptomics of Aquilegia nectar spurs with contrasting pollination syndromes and morphologies

Determining the developmental programs underlying morphological variation is key to elucidating the evolutionary processes that generated the stunning biodiversity of the angiosperms. The goal of this study is to characterize the developmental and transcriptional dynamics of the elaborate petal nectar spur of Aquilegia (columbine) in species with contrasting pollination syndromes and spur morphologies. We performed RNA-seq on A. brevistyla (bee) and A. canadensis (hummingbird) distal and proximal spur compartments at multiple developmental stages.