title: A strawberry KNOX gene regulates leaf, flower and meristem architecture.
abstract: The KNOTTED-LIKE HOMEODOMAIN (KNOX) genes play a central role in maintenance of the shoot apical meristem. They also contribute to the morphology of simple and compound leaves. In this report we characterize the FaKNOX1 gene from strawberry (Fragaria spp.) and demonstrate its function in trasgenic plants. The FaKNOX1 cDNA was isolated from a cultivated strawberry (F.×ananassa) flower EST library. The sequence is most similar to Class I KNOX genes, and was mapped to linkage group VI of the diploid strawberry genome. Unlike most KNOX genes studied, steady-state transcript levels were highest in flowers and fruits. Transcripts were also detected in emerging leaf primordia and the apical dome. Transgenic strawberry plants suppressing or overexpressing FaKNOX1 exhibited conspicuous changes in plant form. The FaKNOX1 RNAi plants presented a dwarfed phenotype with deeply serrated leaflets and exaggerated petiolules. They also exhibited a high level of cellular disorganization of the shoot apical meristem and leaves. Overexpression of FaKNOX1 caused dwarfed stature with wrinkled leaves. These gain- and loss-of-function assays in strawberry functionally demonstrate the contributions of a KNOX domain protein in a rosaceous species.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America. cmithu@ufl.edu
authors.forename: Mithu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Claudia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bermudez-Lozano
authors.forename: Maureen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Clancy
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Folta
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D035264:Flowers / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics; D031985:Fragaria / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D018519:Meristem / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger