title: The role of the potato (Solanum tuberosum) CCD8 gene in stolon and tuber development.
abstract: · Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of phytohormones controlling shoot branching. In potato (Solanum tuberosum), tubers develop from underground stolons, diageotropic stems which originate from basal stem nodes. As the degree of stolon branching influences the number and size distribution of tubers, it was considered timely to investigate the effects of SL production on potato development and tuber life cycle. · Transgenic potato plants were generated in which the CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE8 (CCD8) gene, key in the SL biosynthetic pathway, was silenced by RNA interference (RNAi). · The resulting CCD8-RNAi potato plants showed significantly more lateral and main branches than control plants, reduced stolon formation, together with a dwarfing phenotype and a lack of flowering in the most severely affected lines. New tubers were formed from sessile buds of the mother tubers. The apical buds of newly formed transgenic tubers grew out as shoots when exposed to light. In addition, we found that CCD8 transcript levels were rapidly downregulated in tuber buds by the application of sprout-inducing treatments. · These results suggest that SLs could have an effect, solely or in combination with other phytohormones, in the morphology of potato plants and also in controlling stolon development and maintaining tuber dormancy.
authors.affiliation: Cell and Molecular Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK.|School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, UK.
authors.forename: Stefania A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pasare
authors.affiliation: Cell and Molecular Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Laurence J M
authors.initials: LJM
authors.lastname: Ducreux
authors.affiliation: Cell and Molecular Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Wayne L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Cell and Molecular Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Cell and Molecular Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Sanjeev K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Breeding, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 386, 6700, AJ Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roumeliotis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 386, 6700, AJ Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kohlen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 386, 6700, AJ Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van der Krol
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, UK.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bramley
authors.affiliation: Cell and Molecular Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Alison G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, UK.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Cell and Molecular Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D049308:Dioxygenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005875:Gibberellins / Q000494:pharmacology; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010641:Phenotype; D057445:Plant Dormancy / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D035281:Plant Tubers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D011687:Purines / Q000494:pharmacology; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D001593:Benzyl Compounds; C507382:GR24 compound; D005875:Gibberellins; D007783:Lactones; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011687:Purines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C472678:orobanchol; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002338:Carotenoids; C007842:gibberellic acid; D049308:Dioxygenases; C480551:benzylaminopurine