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Gene silencing in potato: allelic differences and effect of ploidy

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Abstract

Silencing of genes is mostly studied in diploid, homozygous, self-fertile and sexually propagated species. However, conclusions drawn for these species are not always applicable to crops like potato, which is an autotetraploid, highly heterozygous, vegetatively propagated species. Factors influencing the level of silencing in potato are discussed, with emphasis on inhibition of the granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) gene. Type of construct, number of integrated T-DNA copies, structural arrangement of the T-DNA locus, integration site, target tissue and genetic background are important factors for all plant species. Ploidy level and multiple allelism are factors deserving special attention when the efficiency of silencing of endogenous genes is studied in polyploid, heterozygous species such as potato.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School Experimental Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, Laboratory of Plant Breeding, Netherlands

    Anne-Marie A. Wolters & Richard G.F. Visser

  2. P.O. Box 386, 6700 AJ, Wageningen, Netherlands

    Anne-Marie A. Wolters & Richard G.F. Visser

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  1. Anne-Marie A. Wolters
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Wolters, AM.A., Visser, R.G. Gene silencing in potato: allelic differences and effect of ploidy. Plant Mol Biol 43, 377–386 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006476621946

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