Candidate genes analysis of flower reversion to bulbils in Titanotrichum oldhamii (Hemsl.) Soler.
Date Issued
2009
Date
2009
Author(s)
Chen, Yan-Jun
Abstract
Titanotrichum oldhamii appears to rely largely on asexual reproduction by bulbils and rhizomes. It has inflorescences bearing either showy yellow flowers or asexual bulbils and a reversion from flowering to asexual bulbiliferous shoots. Overexpression of KNOTTED 1-LIKE HOMEOBOX (KNOX) results in epiphyllous infloresences on the surface of tobacco leaves resembling bulbiliferous shoots. In addition, KNOX gene has been proved antagonisticly interacts with a lateral organ specification gene, ARP gene, to convert shoot into determinant primordia. To test whether these genes are involved in T. oldhamii bulbiliferous shoots development, ToSTM and ToBP (KNOX homologues) and ToPHAN (ARP homologue) were isolated. Their expression patterns were compared in vegetative shoot meristem, floral meristem, and bulbiliferous shoot meristem via RNA in-situ hybridization. ToSTM was expressed in bulbiliferous shoot meristem. Unexpectedly, ToPHAN shared the same expression areas as ToSTM: both were expressed in the center of bulbil meristems but ToPHAN had even a wider expression area. However, at later stage ToPHAN appeared to be expressed in the boundary of bulbil primordia. This implied that both genes were involved in bulbiliferous shoot meristem formation while ToPHAN also specified later stages of bulbil formation. ToPHAN and ToSTM seemed to co-opt into bulbil development. Their role thus remains to be explored by promoter analysis and functional analysis in the future.
Subjects
Titanotrichum oldhamii
bulbil
KNOX gene
ARP gene
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