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Co-modification of class B genes TfDEF and TfGLO in Torenia fournieri Lind. alters both flower morphology and inflorescence architecture

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Abstract

The class B genes DEFICIENS (DEF)/APETALA3 (AP3) and GLOBOSA (GLO)/PISTILLATA (PI), encoding MADS-box transcription factors, and their functions in petal and stamen development have been intensely studied in Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum. However, the functions of class B genes in other plants, including ornamental species exhibiting floral morphology different from these model plants, have not received nearly as much attention. Here, we examine the cooperative functions of TfDEF and TfGLO on floral organ development in the ornamental plant torenia (Torenia fournieri Lind.). Torenia plants co-overexpressing TfDEF and TfGLO showed a morphological alteration of sepals to petaloid organs. Phenotypically, these petaloid sepals were nearly identical to petals but had no stamens or yellow patches like those of wild-type petals. Furthermore, the inflorescence architecture in the co-overexpressing torenias showed a characteristic change in which, unlike the wild-types, their flowers developed without peduncles. Evaluation of the petaloid sepals showed that these attained a petal-like nature in terms of floral organ phenotype, cell shape, pigment composition, and the expression patterns of anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes. In contrast, torenias in which TfDEF and TfGLO were co-suppressed exhibited sepaloid petals in the second whorl. The sepaloid petals also attained a sepal-like nature, in the same way as the petaloid sepals. The results clearly demonstrate that TfDEF and TfGLO play important cooperative roles in petal development in torenia. Furthermore, the unique transgenic phenotypes produced create a valuable new way through which characteristics of petal development and inflorescence architecture can be investigated in torenia.

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Abbreviations

ANS:

Anthocyanin synthase

AP3:

APETALA3

CaMV:

Cauliflower mosaic virus

CHI:

Chalcone isomerase

CHS:

Chalcone synthase

DEF:

DEFICIENS

DFR:

Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase

F3ʹ5ʹH:

Flavonoid 3ʹ,5ʹ-hydroxylase

F3ʹH:

Flavonoid 3ʹ-hydroxylase

GLO:

GLOBOSA

3GT:

Flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase

PI:

PISTILLATA

qRT-PCR:

Quantitative reverse transcription–PCR

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

SEP:

SEPALLATA

SQUA:

SQUAMOSA

3ʹ-UTR:

3ʹ Untranslated region

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Ken-ichi Shibuya for support in digital microscopy; Ms. Satoko Ohtawa for generating and maintaining the transgenic torenias; and Ms. Miho Seki, Ms. Yasuko Taniji, and Ms. Yoshiko Kashiwagi for assistance with the molecular biological work and for maintaining the torenias used in the study. This work was supported by the Program for Promotion of Basic and Applied Researches for Innovations in Bio-oriented Industry from the Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution and by the Scientific Technique Research Promotion Program for Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Food Industry (Japan).

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  1. NARO Institute of Floricultural Science (NIFS), National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Fujimoto 2-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8519, Japan

    Katsutomo Sasaki, Hiroyasu Yamaguchi, Masayoshi Nakayama, Ryutaro Aida & Norihiro Ohtsubo

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  1. Katsutomo Sasaki
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  2. Hiroyasu Yamaguchi
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  3. Masayoshi Nakayama
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  4. Ryutaro Aida
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  5. Norihiro Ohtsubo
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Correspondence to Norihiro Ohtsubo.

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Sasaki, K., Yamaguchi, H., Nakayama, M. et al. Co-modification of class B genes TfDEF and TfGLO in Torenia fournieri Lind. alters both flower morphology and inflorescence architecture. Plant Mol Biol 86, 319–334 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-014-0231-8

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