Open AccessAltered expression of C m NRR a changes flowering time of C hrysanthemum morifolium
Author(s) -
Zhang Yuman,
Lian Lijuan,
Liu Qing,
Xiao Na,
Fang Rongxiang,
Liu Qinglin,
Chen Xiaoying
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.12026
Subject(s) - chrysanthemum morifolium , biology , transgene , genetically modified crops , gene , complementary dna , transformation (genetics) , gene knockdown , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , biochemistry
Summary Flowering time is an important ornamental trait for chrysanthemum ( C hrysanthemum morifolium, D endranthema x grandiflorum ) floricultural production. In this study, C m NRR a , an orthologous gene of O sNRRa that regulates root growth in response to nutrient stress in rice, was identified from C hrysanthemum and its role in flowering time was studied. The entire C m NRR a cDNA sequence was determined using a combinatorial PCR approach along with 5′ and 3′ RACE methods. Cm NRR a expression levels in various tissues were monitored by real‐time RT ‐ PCR . Cm NRR a was strongly expressed in flower buds and peduncles, suggesting that C m NRR a plays a regulatory role in floral development. To investigate the biological function of C m NRR a in chrysanthemums, overexpression and knockdown of C m NRR a were carried out using transgenic C hrysanthemum plants generated through A grobacterium ‐mediated transformation. Cm NRR a expression levels in the transgenic plants were assayed by real‐time RT ‐ PCR and N orthern blot analysis. The transgenic plants showed altered flowering times compared with nontransgenic plants. Cm NRR a ‐ RNA i transgenic plants flowered 40–64 days earlier, while C m NRR a ‐overexpressing plants exhibited a delayed flowering phenotype. These results revealed a negative effect of C m NRR a on flowering time modulation. Alteration of C m NRR a expression levels might be an effective means of controlling flowering time in C hrysanthemum. These results possess potential application in molecular breeding of chrysanthemums that production year‐round, and may improve commercial chrysanthemum production in the flower industry.