VvCO and VvCOL1, two CONSTANS homologous genes, are regulated during flower induction and dormancy in grapevine buds.
Two previously uncharacterized Vitis vinifera CONSTANS-like genes (VvCO, VvCOL1), which are predicted to encode proteins with homology to members of the Arabidopis CONSTANS family, were identified. Under controlled conditions, both genes show a diurnal expression pattern with peak at dawn. During grapevine bud development, VvCOL1 is mainly expressed in dormancy, suggesting a participation in the transcriptional photoperiod control of bud dormancy induction and maintenance in this species. On the other hand, VvCO expression in latent buds is in agreement with a function during flowering induction. A spatial and temporal relationship in the expression of VvCO, VFY and VvMADS8 (the Arabidopsis LEAFY and SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 orthologues) in latent buds is observed, suggesting that these genes are involved in the seasonal periodicity of flowering in grapevines. Furthermore, our results provide a new molecular insight into tendril development showing that grapevine CO homologues are also expressed in this distinctive organ.
Almada
Rubén
R
Instituto de Biología Vegetal y Biotecnología, Universidad de Talca, 2 Norte No 685, Talca, Chile.
Cabrera
Nuri
N
Casaretto
José A
JA
Ruiz-Lara
Simón
S
González Villanueva
Enrique
E
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017440:Photoperiod; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D027843:Vitis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant