Physiological and genetic control of tuber formation

Summary Tuber formation is a plalstic and complex, but well-orchestrated sequences of morphological. physiological and biochemical events. The physiological control mechanisms of this sequence of events may involve many hormones, but certainly gibberellic acids play a dominant role: they affecft most steps and are influenced by inducing or non-inducing conditions in a manner consistent with effects of these conditions on tuber induction. The genetic control is also complex. Numerous cDNA fragments have been isolated which are specifically expressed during tuberization. They can be used in anti-sense orientation in transgenic plants to thest their possible role in tuberization. In addition these cDNA fragments are used as genetic marker loci in QTL mapping studies and serve as candidate genes to exlain phenotypic variation. Profiles of the importance of QTLs over time may be combined with expression profiles of candidate genes. Such novel approaches offer unique opportunities for synergism between physiology, molecular biology and genetics.