JXB Advance Access originally published online on April 11, 2003
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Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol. 54, No. 387, pp. 1637-1639,
June 1, 2003
© 2003 Oxford University Press
Identification of three MADS-box genes expressed in sunflower capitulum
Received 23 December 2002; Accepted 28 February 2003
Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, CC 242 Paraje El Pozo, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. Fax: +54 342 4575219. E-mail: rchan{at}fbcb.unl.edu.ar
Three cDNA clones, HaPI, HaAG and HaAP3, were isolated from sunflower inflorescences at the R2 stage of development. The cDNAs share high sequence similarity with the PISTILLATA, AGAMOUS, and APETALA3 genes from Arabidopsis, respectively, which contain a MADS-box and are involved in floral organ development. Expression of the corresponding genes was analysed by northern blots and in situ hybridization. They are expressed preferentially in the R3 and R4 stages of capitulum development. HaAG accumulates in fertile flowers, mainly in stamens, while HaPI and HaAP3 are preferentially expressed in ray (sterile) flowers and more weakly in petals and stamens of fertile flowers.
Key words: Floral development, MADS-box, sunflower, transcription factor.