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Characterisation of the DELLA subfamily in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.)

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Abstract

The hormone gibberellic acid (GA) regulates growth and development throughout the plant life cycle. DELLA proteins are key components of the GA signalling pathway and act to repress GA responses. The “DELLA” amino acid motif is highly conserved among diverse species and is essential for GA-induced destruction of DELLA proteins, which relieves repression. Six genes encoding the DELLA motif were identified within an apple expressed sequence tag (EST) database. Full-length cDNA clones were obtained by RACE and these were designated MdRGL1a/b, MdRGL2a/b, and MdRGL3a/b. Sequence alignment of the predicted proteins indicates that the MdDELLAs are 37–93% homologous to one another and 44–65% to the Arabidopsis DELLAs. The MdDELLAs cluster into three pairs, which reflect the presumed allopolyploid origins of the Maloideae. Expression analysis using quantitative real-time PCR indicates that all three pairs of MdDELLA mRNAs are expressed at the highest levels in summer arrested shoot tips and in autumn vegetative buds. Transgenic Arabidopsis expressing MdRGL2a have smaller leaves and shorter stems, take longer to flower in short days, and exhibit a reduced response to exogenous GA3, indicating significant conservation of gene function between DELLA proteins from apple and Arabidopsis.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Qing Deng and Karryn Grafton for excellent technical assistance, Duncan Stanley for phylogenetic advice, and Kimberley Snowden and Robyn Johnston for helpful comments on the manuscript. This research was funded by the New Zealand Foundation for Research Science and Technology.

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  1. The Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand Ltd, PB 11030, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Toshi Foster, Chris Kirk & William T. Jones

  2. The Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand Ltd, PB 92169, Auckland, New Zealand

    Chris Kirk, Andrew C. Allan, Richard Espley & Sakuntala Karunairetnam

  3. Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Massey University, PB 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Jasna Rakonjac

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  1. Toshi Foster
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Correspondence to Toshi Foster.

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Foster, T., Kirk, C., Jones, W.T. et al. Characterisation of the DELLA subfamily in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.). Tree Genetics & Genomes 3, 187–197 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-006-0047-z

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