AP-3 gene expression study during flower development in saffron (Crocus sativusL.)

Abstract

In saffron (Crocus sativus L.) the flower is the most important part and understanding the pathway underlying the flower development can pave the way for new avenues to improve its productivity and quality. The combination of class A genes (including APETALA1; AP1 and APETALA2; AP2), class B genes (including APETALA3; AP3 and PISTILLATA; PI) and class C genes (including AGAMOUS; AG) that are active in each whorl determines the identity of the organs that will later develop in that whorl. AP3 is a class B gene which promotes petal and stamen formation and has a very important role in flower development. It also activates other genes involved in flower development. Present work was focused on the study of comparative gene expression changes during different stages of flower development. AP-3 gene expression was found maximum during late-parenthesis yellow stage of stigma development. Expression increases from yellow to orange stage of stigma development and then reduces again from orange to scarlet stage of stigma development. Since AP-3 is the regulatory gene for floral development, its expression pattern determines the flowering fate in saffron.