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Molecular characterization of loquat EjAP1 gene in relation to flowering

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Abstract

AP1/SQUA-like gene plays important roles in the development of inflorescences and flowers. In this study, an APETALA1 (AP1) homologue, EjAP1, was isolated from loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.), an economically important subtropical fruit of the Rosaceae. EjAP1 was sequenced and found to be 3,229 bp in length with 6 introns and 7 exons and encoded 239 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence contained the typical CaaX-motif of the AP1 functional proteins and shared high homology with the other AP1 genes. Phylogenetic analysis at the amino acid level indicated that EjAP1 belongs to the AP1/SQUA subfamily. Transcriptions of EjAP1 were detected in inflorescence bud, flower bud and flower, but not in vegetative tissues such as vegetative bud. In floral organs, highest expression of EjAP1 was detected in sepal compared to lower transcription level in petal and stamen, and no transcription in pistil. When ectopic expressed in ap1-1 mutant of Arabidopsis, EjAP1 can partially complement the mutant mainly in that it can restore the sepal and petal formation of ap1-1 mutant. These results indicated that EjAP1 gene may play a similar role as Arabidopsis AP1 in the floral development of loquat.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by grants of Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization for Germplasm Resources in Horticultural Crops in South China of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, South China Agricultural University (no. KBL11008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China

    Yuexue Liu

  2. State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro- Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Yuexue Liu, Guibing Hu & Shunquan Lin

  3. College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Yuexue Liu, Huwei Song, Zongli Liu, Guibing Hu & Shunquan Lin

  4. Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology Around Hongze Lake, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China

    Huwei Song

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  1. Yuexue Liu
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Correspondence to Shunquan Lin.

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Yuexue Liu and Huwei Song: contributed equally to this work.

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Liu, Y., Song, H., Liu, Z. et al. Molecular characterization of loquat EjAP1 gene in relation to flowering. Plant Growth Regul 70, 287–296 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-013-9800-0

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