Cloning and expression of embryogenesis-regulating genes in Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze (Brazilian Pine)

• Main Authors: Paulo Sérgio Schlögl, André Luis Wendt dos Santos, Leila do Nascimento Vieira, Eny Iochevet Segal Floh, Miguel Pedro Guerra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Genética 2012-01-01
• Series: Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Subjects: seed development; Brazilian Pine; embryogenesis-regulating genes; zygotic embryogenesis
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1415-47572012000100025

Angiosperm and gymnosperm plants evolved from a common ancestor about 300 million years ago. Apart from morphological and structural differences in embryogenesis and seed origin, a set of embryogenesis-regulating genes and the molecular mechanisms involved in embryo development seem to have been conserved alike in both taxa. Few studies have covered molecular aspects of embryogenesis in the Brazilian pine, the only economically important native conifer in Brazil. Thus eight embryogenesis-regulating genes, viz.,ARGONAUTE 1, CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON 1, WUSCHEL-related WOX, S-LOCUS LECTIN PROTEIN KINASE, SCARECROW-like, VICILIN 7S, LEAFY COTYLEDON 1, and REVERSIBLE GLYCOSYLATED POLYPEPTIDE 1, were analyzed through semiquantitative RT-PCR during embryo development and germination. All the eight were found to be differentially expressed in the various developmental stages of zygotic embryos, seeds and seedling tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first report on embryogenesis-regulating gene expression in members of the Araucariaceae family, as well as in plants with recalcitrant seeds.