PASSIOMA: Exploring Expressed Sequence Tags during Flower Development in Passiflora spp.

The genus Passiflora provides a remarkable example of floral complexity and diversity. The extreme variation of Passiflora flower morphologies allowed a wide range of interactions with pollinators to evolve. We used the analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) as an approach for the characterization of genes expressed during Passiflora reproductive development. Analyzing the Passiflora floral EST database (named PASSIOMA), we found sequences showing significant sequence similarity to genes known to be involved in reproductive development such as MADS-box genes. Some of these sequences were studied using RT-PCR and in situ hybridization confirming their expression during Passiflora flower development. The detection of these novel sequences can contribute to the development of EST-based markers for important agronomic traits as well as to the establishment of genomic tools to study the naturally occurring floral diversity among Passiflora species

Exploring the role of auxin in the androgynophore movement in passiflora

The flowers of the species belonging to the genus Passiflora show a range of features that are thought to have arisen as adaptations to different pollinators. Some Passiflora species belonging to the subgenus Decaloba sect. Xerogona, show touch-sensitive motile androgynophores. We tested the role of auxin polar transport in the modulation of the androgynophore movement by applying auxin (IAA) or an inhibitor of auxin polar transport (NPA) in the flowers. We recorded the movement of the androgynophore during mechano-stimulation and analyzed the duration, speed, and the angle formed by the androgynophore before and after the movement, and found that both IAA and NPA increase the amplitude of the movement in P. sanguinolenta. We hypothesize that auxin might have a role in modulating the fitness of these Decaloba species to different pollination syndromes and demonstrate that an interspecific hybrid between insect- and hummingbird-pollinated Xerogona species present a heterosis effect on the speed of the androgynophore383301307CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPES

A Genomic Approach to Study Anthocyanin Synthesis and Flower Pigmentation in Passionflowers

Most of the plant pigments ranging from red to purple colors belong to the anthocyanin group of flavonoids. The flowers of plants belonging to the genus Passiflora (passionflowers) show a wide range of floral adaptations to diverse pollinating agents, including variation in the pigmentation of floral parts ranging from white to red and purple colors. Exploring a database of expressed sequence tags obtained from flower buds of two divergent Passiflora species, we obtained assembled sequences potentially corresponding to 15 different genes of the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway in these species. The obtained sequences code for putative enzymes are involved in the production of flavonoid precursors, as well as those involved in the formation of particular (“decorated”) anthocyanin molecules. We also obtained sequences encoding regulatory factors that control the expression of structural genes and regulate the spatial and temporal accumulation of pigments. The identification of some of the putative Passiflora anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway genes provides novel resources for research on secondary metabolism in passionflowers, especially on the elucidation of the processes involved in floral pigmentation, which will allow future studies on the role of pigmentation in pollinator preferences in a molecular level

FT/TFL1: Calibrating Plant Architecture

There is a very large diversity in plant architecture in nature. Over the past few years, novel theoretical concepts and analytical methods have emerged as powerful tools to understand important aspects of plant architecture. Plant architecture depends on the relative arrangement of three types of organs: leaves, shoots, and flowers. During plant development, the architecture is modulated by the balance of two homologous proteins: FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1). The FT/TFL1 balance defines the plant growth habit as indeterminate or determinate by modulating the pattern of formation of vegetative and reproductive structures in the apical and axillary meristems. Here, we present a summarized review of plant architecture and primarily focus on the FT/TFL1 balance and its effect on plant form and development. We also propose passion fruit as a suitable model plant to study the effect of FT/TFL1 genes on plant architecture

Anatomical studies of in vitro organogenesis induced in leaf-derived explants of passionfruit

Com o objetivo de estudar a organogênese in vitro em Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg., o maracujá-amarelo, explantes derivados de folha foram cultivados em meio contendo NAA ou BAP, no escuro e na presença de luz. Foram descritos os eventos histológicos que levam à formação de novo de órgãos. Concluiu-se que o escuro induz a rizogênese, na presença de NAA, enquanto a regeneração de brotos é estimulada pela luz e BAP. Esta condição é recomendada para micropropagar o maracujá uma vez que vários brotos adventícios são formados a partir de meristemóides de origem parenquimática.With the aim of studying the organogenesis in vitro in Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg., the passionfruit, leaf-derived explants were cultured on media containing NAA or BAP and incubated either in continuous darkness or in light. The histological events leading to de novo organ formation were evaluated. Darkness induces rhizogenesis in the presence of NAA, whereas direct shoot regeneration is stimulated by light and BAP. This latter condition is recommended for passionfruit micropropagation as several adventitious shoot buds were formed from meristemoids of parenchymal origin

Analysis of alanine aminotransferase in various organs of soybean (Glycine max) and in dependence of different nitrogen fertilisers during hypoxic stress

Alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) catalyses the reversible conversion of pyruvate and glutamate into alanine and oxoglutarate. In soybean, two subclasses were identified, each represented by two highly similar members. To investigate the role of AlaAT during hypoxic stress in soybean, changes in transcript level of both subclasses were analysed together with the enzyme activity and alanine content of the tissue. Moreover, the dependency of AlaAT activity and gene expression was investigated in relation to the source of nitrogen supplied to the plants. Using semi-quantitative PCR, GmAlaAT genes were determined to be highest expressed in roots and nodules. Under normal growth conditions, enzyme activity of AlaAT was detected in all organs tested, with lowest activity in the roots. Upon waterlogging-induced hypoxia, AlaAT activity increased strongly. Concomitantly, alanine accumulated. During re-oxygenation, AlaAT activity remained high, but the transcript level and the alanine content decreased. Our results show a role for AlaAT in the catabolism of alanine during the initial period of re-oxygenation following hypoxia. GmAlaAT also responded to nitrogen availability in the solution during waterlogging. Ammonium as nitrogen source induced both gene expression and enzyme activity of AlaAT more than when nitrate was supplied in the nutrient solution. The work presented here indicates that AlaAT might not only be important during hypoxia, but also during the recovery phase after waterlogging, when oxygen is available to the tissue again

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Programas de melhoramento genético de maracujá (Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa Deg.) têm sido conduzidos no Brasil visando a seleção de variedades mais produtivas. Híbridos interespecíficos entre a espécie cultivada e espécies selvagens relacionadas têm sido obtidos, usando técnicas de hibridação sexual, na tentativa de transferir genes de resistência à doenças para o híbrido. Entretanto estes híbridos interespecíficos possuem problemas de fertilidade. Isto dificulta seu aproveitamento em programas de melhoramento e justifica o uso da técnica de hibridação somática. Esta dissertação descreve o desenvolvimento de protocolos para o isolamento e a cultura de protoplastos de espécies de Passiflora. O procedimento resulta na regeneração de plantas inteiras, bem como na obtenção de hídricos somáticos resultantes da fusão de protoplastos isolados da espécie comercial e de espécies selvagens de Passiflora. Protoplastos foram isolados de explantes foliares de P. alata Ait., P. amethystina Mikan, P. cincinnata,/i> Mast., P. coccínea Aubl., P. edulis var. flavicarpa Deg. E P. giberti N.E. Brown, mediante tratamento enzimático. Os protoplastos mostraram-se capazes de regenerar a parede celular, sofrer divisões e formar colônias. Em condições apropriadas, as colônias desenvolveram calos e regeneraram brotos. Plantas inteiras puderam ser obtidas de todas as espécies estudadas, com exceção de P. coccínea. Protoplastos isolados de tecido foliar de P. edulis var. flavicarpa e de suspensões celulares das espécies selvagens, foram fundidos com o uso de uma solução contendo 30% (p/v) de PEG. O cultivo dos produtos de fusão resultou em 3 a 5% de calos híbridos. Estes foram selecionados pelo padrão eletroforético de bandas de proteínas solúveis e de isoenzimas. Os híbridos somáticos de P. edulis var. flavicarpa (+) P. alata, P. edulis var. flavicarpa (+) P. amethystina, P. edulis var. flavicarpa (+) P. cincinnata e P. edulis var. flavicarpa (+) P. giberti, foram regenerados desenvolveram-se em plantas inteiras, que apresentaram 4n=36 cromossomos.not availabl

not available

Programas de melhoramento genético de maracujá (Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa Deg.) têm sido conduzidos no Brasil visando a seleção de variedades mais produtivas. Híbridos interespecíficos entre a espécie cultivada e espécies selvagens relacionadas têm sido obtidos, usando técnicas de hibridação sexual, na tentativa de transferir genes de resistência à doenças para o híbrido. Entretanto estes híbridos interespecíficos possuem problemas de fertilidade. Isto dificulta seu aproveitamento em programas de melhoramento e justifica o uso da técnica de hibridação somática. Esta dissertação descreve o desenvolvimento de protocolos para o isolamento e a cultura de protoplastos de espécies de Passiflora. O procedimento resulta na regeneração de plantas inteiras, bem como na obtenção de hídricos somáticos resultantes da fusão de protoplastos isolados da espécie comercial e de espécies selvagens de Passiflora. Protoplastos foram isolados de explantes foliares de P. alata Ait., P. amethystina Mikan, P. cincinnata,/i> Mast., P. coccínea Aubl., P. edulis var. flavicarpa Deg. E P. giberti N.E. Brown, mediante tratamento enzimático. Os protoplastos mostraram-se capazes de regenerar a parede celular, sofrer divisões e formar colônias. Em condições apropriadas, as colônias desenvolveram calos e regeneraram brotos. Plantas inteiras puderam ser obtidas de todas as espécies estudadas, com exceção de P. coccínea. Protoplastos isolados de tecido foliar de P. edulis var. flavicarpa e de suspensões celulares das espécies selvagens, foram fundidos com o uso de uma solução contendo 30% (p/v) de PEG. O cultivo dos produtos de fusão resultou em 3 a 5% de calos híbridos. Estes foram selecionados pelo padrão eletroforético de bandas de proteínas solúveis e de isoenzimas. Os híbridos somáticos de P. edulis var. flavicarpa (+) P. alata, P. edulis var. flavicarpa (+) P. amethystina, P. edulis var. flavicarpa (+) P. cincinnata e P. edulis var. flavicarpa (+) P. giberti, foram regenerados desenvolveram-se em plantas inteiras, que apresentaram 4n=36 cromossomos.not availabl