Open AccessOverexpression of a MADS-Box Gene from Birch (Betula platyphylla) Promotes Flowering and Enhances Chloroplast Development in Transgenic Tobacco
Author(s) -
Guanzheng Qu,
Tangchun Zheng,
Guifeng Liu,
Wenjie Wang,
Lei Zang,
Huanzhen Liu,
Chuanping Yang
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0063398
Subject(s) - betula platyphylla , mads box , arabidopsis , biology , transgene , sepal , ectopic expression , chloroplast , botany , genetically modified crops , methyl jasmonate , gene , genetics , stamen , pollen , mutant
In this study, a MADS-box gene ( BpMADS ), which is an ortholog of AP1 from Arabidopsis , was isolated from birch ( Betula platyphylla ). Transgenic Arabidopsis containing a BpMADS promoter::GUS construct was produced, which exhibited strong GUS staining in sepal tissues. Ectopic expression of BpMADS significantly enhanced the flowering of tobacco (35S::BpMADS). In addition, the chloroplasts of transgenic tobacco exhibited much higher growth and division rates, as well rates of photosynthesis, than wild-type. A grafting experiment demonstrated that the flowering time of the scion was not affected by stock that overexpressed BpMADS . In addition, the overexpression of BpMADS resulted in the upregulation of some flowering-related genes in tobacco.