THE PLANT CELL, Vol 1, Issue 1 25-35, Copyright © 1989 by American Society of Plant Biologists
Tobacco Genes Expressed during in Vitro Floral Initiation and Their Expression during Normal Plant Development
D. R. Meeks-Wagner, E. S. Dennis, KTT. Van and W. J. Peacock
Division of Plant Industry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, G.P.O. Box 1600, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Since the transition from vegetative to floral development in plants is
likely to be influenced by gene expression in several plant organs, we have
used an in vitro system, the tobacco "thin cell layer" system as a model
for investigating gene expression associated with the initiation of
flowering in higher plants. cDNA cloning has been used to identify mRNAs
abundant during thin cell layer floral initiation. These genes are
expressed in thin cell layer explants initiating floral meristems but not
in thin cell layer explants initiating vegetative shoot meristems or
possessing roots. Two of these genes are expressed transcriptionally in
incipient floral apices during normal plant development. Transcripts of
these genes, plus a third gene, occur at low levels in several plant organs
and at high levels in the roots, with the maximum levels of root expression
reached just prior to the formation of floral meristems.
