An evo-devo view of the gynoecium.

This article focuses on the evolution, development, and molecular mechanisms underlying the origin and diversification of the gynoecium, the female reproductive structure of flowering plants (angiosperms). The gynoecium encloses and protects ovules, facilitates fertilization, and often develops into fruit for seed dispersal, representing a key adaptive innovation in angiosperm evolution. Despite advances in understanding gene regulatory networks (GRNs) controlling gynoecium development—especially in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana—questions remain about the conservation and evolution of these molecular mechanisms across diverse taxa. The review discusses competing hypotheses on the gynoecium’s origin, its morphological diversity (e.g., plicate vs. ascidiate carpels), developmental stages, and the roles of key genes and phytohormones such as auxin and cytokinin in gynoecium patterning and organogenesis. It highlights candidate genes like CUC, CRC, SPT, HEC, and STM as central to gynoecium development and evolution, suggesting future research on their functional conservation could clarify unresolved evolutionary questions.