© 2007 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
Characterization and expression analysis of FRUITFULL- and SHATTERPROOF-like genes from peach (Prunus persica) and their role in split-pit formation
Eleni Tani (1), Alexios N. Polidoros (1) and Athanasios S. Tsaftaris (1–3)
1. Institute of Agrobiotechnology, CERTH, 6th km Charilaou-Thermis Road, Thermi, GR-570 01, Greece / 2. Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, AUTH, Thessaloniki, GR-540 06, Greece / 3. Corresponding author (tsaft@certh.gr) / Received June 16, 2006; accepted July 20, 2006; published online February 1, 2007
Summary
The fruit canning industry processes large quantities of the clingstone varieties of peach (Prunus persica L. Batch). The occurrence of split-pit formation—the opening of the pit and sometimes splitting of the fruit—causes deterioration
of canned fruit quality. The frequency of split-pit formation is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. To increase
understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying split-pit formation in peach, we cloned and characterized the PPERFUL and PPERSHP genes that are homologues to the genes FRUITFULL and SHATTERPROOF, respectively, which are involved in fruit splitting (pod shattering) in Arabidopsis thaliana. The deduced amino acid sequences of the two genes had high homology with members of the MADS-box family of transcription
factors, and particularly with other members of the FUL-like family of A-type MADS-box proteins and PLENA-like family of C-type
MADS-box proteins, respectively. PPERFUL and PPERSHP were expressed throughout fruit development from full anthesis until fruit harvest. Differences in the mRNA abundance of
each gene were compared in a split-pit sensitive and a split-pit resistant variety. Results suggested that temporal regulation
of PPERFUL and PPERSHP expression may have an effect on the split-pit process.
Keywords:
MADS-box genes, peach fruit development, RCA-RACE.
