Project Number: WVA00148
CRIS Number: 0187085
Regulation of Ethylene Signal Transduction in Carnation Petals
Investigators: Verlinden, S.
Performing Department: Plant & Soil Sciences -- 1825
Start Date: 12/15/2000
Termination Date: 12/31/2002
Reporting period: 01/01/2001 to 12/31/2001
Progress Report:
The objectives of this project are to clone genes with a potentially important role in ethylene signal transduction and show that their protein products are functional parts of the ethylene signaling in carnation that leads to flower senescence. To date, we have cloned three EIL cDNAs through a PCR-based approach that show significant homology to the previously cloned EIL cDNAs of Arabidopsis. EILs (EIN3-like) genes have been shown to function as transcription factors in ethylene signaling in Arabidopsis. We are interested in these genes because they may play a role in the changes in ethylene responsiveness of Senescence-Related (SR) genes observed during carnation petal development. Sequencing of the cDNAs in two directions is almost completed. The sequences will deposited in the NCBI databases after sequencing is completed. Preliminary expression studies show that the mRNA abundance of at least two of the carnation EIL genes (DCEIL1 and DCEIL2)does not change during flower devlopment from bud stage to senescence in petals and ovaries. However, mRNA abundance of DC-EIL2 is higher in styles of flowers at anthessis than in the styles of flowers in the bud or senescence stages of development. This observation may indicate a role of DC-EIL2 in the increased responsiveness of flowers at anthesis to pollination versus flowers at the bud or senescence stage of development. Further characterization of the expression patterns of DCEIL1 and DCEIL2, in addition to DCEIL3, is under way. Future research will focus on the functionality of the EILs from carnation as transcription factors by translating their cDNAs in vitro and performing electrophoresis mobility shift assays to show binding to specific regions in SR gene promoters.
Publications: (No publications.)
Impact:
Understanding the role of ethylene - a plant hormone - in initiating flower senescence will help in creating longer lasting flowers through genetic engineering or application of specific chemicals. The ultimate aim of this research is to increase the economic value of cut flowers (increasing flower longevity) and improve seed set in agronomically important crops (allowing a larger window of opportunity for successful pollination to occur).