The effect of sucrose on the expression of the VvTFL1 and VFL genes during flower development in the “Xiangfei” grapevine

VFL and VvTFL1 genes expression patterns and the effects of sucrose on the expression of VFL and VvTFL1 genes in different organs of the “Xiangfei” grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) were investigated. VvTFL1 gene expression was detected in the meristem of the apical bud and lateral bud, but was not detected during inflorescence differentiation and flower organ development. After sucrose treatment, VvTFL1 gene expression increased in the apical bud, but decreased in the lateral bud. These results suggested that the VvTFL1 gene might be mainly involved in the apical growth process of shoots, and exogenous sucrose had an effect on the VvTFL1 gene by increasing shoot apical meristem initiation of apical buds. The VFL gene was expressed primarily during inflorescence differentiation and early flower organ development, but it gradually reduced in later flower development. After sucrose treatment, VFL gene expression increased in the inflorescence and small or middle flower, but a little change was seen in the large flower. These results suggested that the VFL gene plays important roles in the initiation of inflorescence meristems and the morphological formation of flower organs. Exogenous sucrose had an effect on VFL gene expression at the early stage of flower development.     

Effect of the expression level of an AGAMOUS-like gene on the petaloidy of stamens in the double-flowered lily, ‘Elodie’

Double-flowered lilies, in which stamens are converted to petaloid organs, are valuable for horticulturists. ‘Elodie’ is a double-flowered lily cultivar in which stamens are homeotically converted into petaloid organs in whorl 3. The ‘Elodie’ cultivar shows individual variation in stamen structure and it was therefore classified into the following three types according to the strength of petaloidy of the stamens: weak (type-I), intermediate (type-II), and strong (type-III) phenotypes. The AGAMOUS (AG) gene is a class C floral identity gene in Arabidopsis thaliana that is involved in the formation of stamens and carpels. An AG-like gene was isolated from ‘Elodie’ (LelAG1) and its expression was compared between flower types. The LelAG1 gene was expressed in whorls 3 and 4, but not in whorls 1 and 2 in all flower types. In type-I flowers, LelAG1 was expressed strongly in whorls 3 and 4, while its expression was significantly decreased in whorl 3 in type-III flowers. In type-II intermediate phenotype flowers, the expression level of LelAG1 in whorl 3 was reduced by 60%. These results suggest that the expression level of AG-like genes is correlated with the degree of petaloidy of the stamens.     

Identification of differentially expressed genes in fragrant rose Jinyindao with suppressive subtraction hybridization

To investigate the floral fragrance new genes, scent mutant of rose was used here. The suppressive subtraction hybridization (SSH) technique and micoarray analysis of the clones were used to isolate the cDNA fragments, which showed differential expression between the rose scent mutant ‘Wangriqinghuai’ and wild type ‘Jinyindao’ (Rosa × hybrida), and RT-PCR was used to identify up-regulated expressed genes. 16 positive contigs of JSSH were obtained. Some ESTs such as RcOMT1, RcOMT2, RhMYB92 and RhGP1 were known to regulate scent metabolism, and 5 ESTs with no homology in NCBI may represent new genes involved in rose flower fragrance metabolism. SSH technique combined with cDNA micoarray would be useful for analysis and isolation of the genes related to rose floral scent.     

Cloning and characterization of 5 MADS-box cDNAs isolated from citrus fruit tissue

We isolated and characterized 5 MADS-box cDNA clones of CitMADS1, CitMADS3, CitMADS5, CitMADS6 and CitMADS8 from fruit tissues of Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.). Sequence analysis revealed that they have high sequence identities with known MADS-box genes and that their predicted proteins possess the general structural features of the M domain and the K domain. In a phylogenetic tree with 24 known Arabidopsis MADS-box genes, 5 Citrus MADS-box genes were classified into 4 clades of the MADS-box gene with independent gene functions. Their broad expression profiles in the Citrus life cycle suggested that they play roles in flower and fruit development. Most of them, except CitMADS1 and CitMADS3, are expressed in seedlings before the phase transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. CitMADS1 and CitMADS3 are not expressed in vegetative organs and could serve as a molecular marker for reproductive development.     

Intergeneric hybridizations between Opisthopappus taihangensis and Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium

For the first time, reciprocal intergeneric hybridizations were produced between Opisthopappus taihangensis and Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium without emasculation. About 20% seed set was similarly obtained from reciprocal hybridization. Only 5 and 6 of the viable plants observed from 45 and 78 seedling survived present some conspicuous intermediate characteristics. Phenotypic evaluation among the progenies of the parents and the putative hybrids was performed carefully since an average of 5.3% seed set was produced in the type of self-pollination using pollen from the same flower and >10% seed set was similarly obtained in the types of self-pollination using pollen from different flowers in a plant and flowers in individual plants from different seeds. One individual of each hybrid shared the inflorescence habit with the pollen plant was confirmed further by the sequence of ncpGS. The two hybrids might be used as bridges of breeding of multi-generic hybrids.     

Identification of differentially expressed genes during flower opening by suppression subtractive hybridization and cDNA microarray analysis in Eustoma grandiflorum

The forward and reverse suppression subtractive cDNA libraries were constructed in petals of Eustoma grandiflorum at bud stage (stage 1) and anthesis (stage 7). Approximately 1000 clones were isolated from stage 1- (S1) and stage 7-specific (S7) libraries. The clones were sequenced and assembled, which yielded 98 contigs and 444 singletons. BLAST search was conducted on these assembled sequences. Generally, probes isolated from the S7 library exhibited higher expression at stage 7 by microarray analysis, as did those of the S1 library at stage 1. A clone set from the S7 library contained genes from later steps of anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, terpene synthases, GAST (gibberellic acid-stimulated) family proteins, xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase, glycosidases, and stress- and senescence-related proteins. In contrast, the S1 library contained genes associated with flavonol biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid metabolism, terpenoid metabolism, and floral organ development. Gene expression profiling for flavonoid biosynthesis was in accordance with preferential accumulation of flavonols at bud stages and anthocyanins at anthesis.     

黄瓜霜霉病抗性相关基因的初步研究

 以黄瓜高抗霜霉病自交系为材料,构建了两个抑制差减文库,经反向Northern杂交筛选、测序和序列比对,筛选到3个未知功能抗病相关基因。荧光实时定量RT-PCR分析结果表明,未知功能抗病相关基因2I15（GD254229）、3C19（GD254243）和1O08（GD254207）在抗病自交系接种霜霉病病原菌后,可早期高丰度特异上调表达,而在感病自交系中特异上调表达丰度较低或被特异抑制表达。水杨酸（SA）可诱导1O08特异上调表达,抑制2I15和3C19的表达;茉莉酸（JA）处理可诱导1O08特异上调表达,而抑制2I15的表达。ABA处理可显著诱导3C19和1O08特异上调表达,而抑制2I15的表达。机械伤害、高盐、冷害和热激等其它非生物胁迫可显著抑制或诱导这些基因的表达,因此推测,所筛选到的功能未知基因可能具有参与生物和非生物胁迫反应的作用     

Modeling plant morphology and development of petunia in response to temperature and photosynthetic daily light integral

The effects of mean daily temperature (MDT) and mean photosynthetic daily light integral (MDLI) on flowering during the finish stage of two petunia (Petunia × hybrida) cultivars were quantified. Petunia ‘Easy Wave Coral Reef’ and ‘Wave Purple’ were grown in glass-glazed greenhouses at 14–23 °C or 14–26 °C and under 4–19 mol m⁻² d⁻¹ with a 16-h photoperiod. The flower developmental rate was predicted using a model that included a linear MDT function with a base temperature multiplied by an exponential MDLI saturation function. The flower developmental rate increased and time to flower decreased as MDT increased within the temperature range studied. For example, under a MDLI of 12 mol m⁻² d⁻¹, as MDT increased from 14 to 23 °C, time to flower of ‘Easy Wave Coral Reef’ and ‘Wave Purple’ decreased from 51 to 22 d and 62 to 30 d, respectively. Flower developmental rate increased as MDLI increased until saturation at 14.1–14.4 mol m⁻² d⁻¹. Nonlinear models were generated for effects of MDT and MDLI on flower bud number and plant height at flowering. The number of flower buds at flowering increased as MDT decreased and MDLI increased. For example, at an MDT of 14 °C with 18 mol m⁻² d⁻¹, plants had 2.5–2.9 times more flower buds than those grown at 23 °C and 4 mol m⁻² d⁻¹. Models were validated with an independent data set, and the predicted time to flower, flower bud number, and plant height were within ±7 d, ±20 flowers, and ±4 cm, respectively, for 96–100%, 62–87%, and 93–100% of the observations, respectively. The models could be used during greenhouse crop production to improve scheduling and predict plant quality of these petunia cultivars.     

Identification of Petunia hybrida cultivars that diurnally emit floral fragrances

In order to identify genetic resources for breeding fragrant petunias for use as bedding plants, volatile compounds released by day from the flowers of 40 commercial Petunia hybrida cultivars were analyzed using a solid-phase micro-extraction technique coupled with GC–MS. The three cultivars with solid deep-blue flowers that accumulate malvidin in corollas with high tissue pH were found to emit abundant iso-eugenol as the principal floral fragrance. Several other cultivars that emitted considerable amounts of methylbenzoate and/or benzylbenzoate from the flower were also identified. Association between the floral fragrance and the other floral traits such as floral anthocyanin composition and corolla-tissue pH was discussed.     

Intersubgeneric cross in Nymphaea spp. L. to develop a blue hardy waterlily

Five waterlily cultivars, with good pod setting and completely formed flowers, from the subgenus Nymphaea (hardy waterlily) were used as pod (female) parent. Waterlilies from subgenera Anecphya (2 entities) and Brachyceras (20 entities), specifically the blue-flowered ones, were used as pollen (male) parent for transferring blue-flowered characteristic to the hardy waterlily. Hybridization of subgenus Nymphaea with subgenus Anecphya was unsuccessful. A successful crossing was obtained between the subgenera Nymphaea and Brachyceras, yielding one pod with 244 seeds, from which only 39 seeds germinated and yielded 20 good intersubgeneric hybrid plants. The characteristics of the hybrids were categorized by their flower colors into two groups, a pink-flowered group with 17 hybrids and a blue-flowered group with 3 hybrids. In the blue-flowered group, there was a prominent one with beautiful blue-purple flower, which was determined by PCR-RFLP markers to be a hybrid between Nymphaea and Brachyceras subgenera, as well as inherited some plant characteristics, for example, ovary carpel, leaf (pad), rootstock, position of flower at flowering from the parent. The blue-purple flowered hybrid had important characteristics inherited from the hardy waterlily (subgenus Nymphaea); therefore, the hybrid has been named Nymphaea ‘Siam Blue Hardy’ to honor the birth place and its distinct flower color.     

Deferring flowering of nobile dendrobium hybrids by holding plants under low temperature after vernalization

Orchids are currently the most valuable potted crop in the United States. To date, no studies focused on making possible the year-round greenhouse production of flowering nobile dendrobium orchids. This experiment was aimed at developing a strategy to defer flowering of nobile dendrobium orchids by holding them under low temperature. Mature Den. Red Emperor ‘Prince’ and Den. Sea Mary ‘Snow King’ were held at 10 °C for various durations (0, 4, 8, 12 or 16 weeks) after vernalization (4 weeks at 10 °C). Plants were forced in a greenhouse after holding. Time to flower, flower differentiation (flowering node percentage, number of aerial shoot and aborted bud) and flower quality (total flower number, flower diameter, flower number per flowering node and flower longevity) were determined. Increase of low temperature holding duration from 0 to 16 weeks extended time to flower up to 3 months and did not affect parameters of flower except producing larger flowers and reducing flower number per flowering node for Den. Red Emperor ‘Prince’. Notably, the flower longevity was not adversely affected. Defoliation was aggravated in Den. Red Emperor ‘Prince’ by longer duration of cooling and was considered a detrimental effect of low temperature holding.     

瓜叶菊花青素合成关键结构基因的分离及表达分析

 本文通过RT-PCR的方法分离了花青素合成途径上的关键结构基因片段：CHS、CHI、F3H、F3'H和DFR。在白色系、红色系、紫色系和蓝色系瓜叶菊舌状花中,采用半定量RT-PCR的方法分析CHS、CHI、F3H、F3'H、DFR、F3'5'H、3MaT这7个结构基因在花不同发育阶段的表达模式。结果表明：在白色花中,不存在CHS的表达;在红色花中,检测到F3'H基因的高丰度表达,但没有检测到F3'5'H的转录本;在蓝色花中,没有F3'H表达的信号,但在花序开放的第Ⅰ阶段有较强的F3'5'H的表达信号;而在紫色花中,可以同时检测到F3'H和F3'5'H的转录本。此外,瓜叶菊花青素合成相关结构基因在花序开放初期高丰度表达,随后逐渐降低,在第Ⅳ阶段表达量再次出现升高现象,而在花序开放末期表达量极低或没有表达信号。     

Effects of ethephon,GA3 and nutrient elements on sex expression of Chinese chestnut

The effects of ethephon or GA₃ on sex expression of Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima BL.) were opposite to the effects of these plant growth regulators on cucumber, pumpkin and Chinese white-flowered gourd. Ethephon at 100–500 mg 1^?1 inhibited the development of female flowers and promoted that of male flowers. GA₃ at 50–500 mg 1^?1 caused a significantly lower number of male inflorescences, but increased the number of female flowers. Urea applications decreased the number of male inflorescences and increased the number of female flowers. For plants grown on phosphorous-deficient soils, fertilizing with superphosphate also increased the number of female flowers. Spraying trees with GA₃, urea or a mixture of both increased the number of female flowers. Therefore, it is proposed that such applications should be employed at the onset of differentiation of flower primordia of Chinese chestnut to increase the ratio of female to male flowers.