Effect of brassinosteroids on flowering and expression levels of APETALA1 (AP1) gene in different organs of Eruca sativa

Rezanejad, Farkhondeh; Abolhassani, Elaheh; Ganjalikhani Hakemi, Farzad

Effect of brassinosteroids on flowering and expression levels of APETALA1 (AP1) gene in different organs of Eruca sativa

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Farkhondeh Rezanejad

Elaheh Abolhassani

Farzad Ganjalikhani Hakemi

Department of Biology, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

Flowering transition is one of the most important developmental processes of higher plants, which is controlled by endogenous and external environmental signals. These signaling cues are perceived in leaves and shoot apical meristem (SAM) to induce flower formation. APETALA1 (AP1) is one of floral meristem identity genes that regulate the specification and formation of floral meristems and is required for sepals and petals formation. In this study, the expression of this gene in different organs of Eruca sativa as well as the effect of brassinosteroids (BRs) on flowering and the gene expression was investigated. RNA was extracted from different organs and first-strand cDNA was synthesized. Specific primers were designed based on the sequence alignment of AP1 isoform genes from other plants. In the vegetative stage, no expression was observed in different organs. Brassinosteroid treatment from 28 days (vegetative stage) to flower buds formation caused early flowering, so that the treated plants flower about 10 days earlier than the control. In addition, plant size and its organs were larger in plants treated with brassinosteroids. Evaluation of EvsAP1 gene expression in reproductive phase showed its expression in flower buds, sepals and petals but no was seen in roots, stems, leaves, stamen and gynocium. Also, the onset of expression of this gene was observed earlier, indicating that the transition to flowering and flower bud formation occurs faster in treated plants; therefore, expression occurs earlier. However, expression levels did not affected by brassinosteroids and no significant difference was observed between treated and control samples.

Keywords

Flower bud

adult flower

Arugula

vegetative period

20.1001.1.23222115.1401.14.1.8.4

Subjects

Agricultural Biotechnology

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