LAUSR

Orchids are members of the Orchidaceae, one of the largest families of flowering plants, and occupy a wide range of ecological habitats with highly specialized reproductive features. They exhibit unique developmental characteristics, such as generation of storage organs during flowering and spectacular floral morphological features, that contribute to their reproductive success in different habitats in response to various environmental cues. Here we review the recent progress in understanding the molecular genetic basis of orchid reproductive development, including flowering time control, floral patterning and flower color, with a focus on the orchid genes that have been functionally validated in plants. Furthermore, we summarize the recent progress in annotating the orchid genomes, and discuss how integration of high-quality orchid genome sequences with other advanced tools, such as the ever-improving multi-omics approaches and genome editing technologies as well as those orchid-specific technical platforms, could open up new avenues to elucidate the molecular genetic basis of highly specialized reproductive organs and strategies in orchids.