Ectopic expression of IiFUL isolated from Isatis indigotica could change the reproductive growth of Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract

The coding sequence of IiFUL in Isatis indigotica was isolated and was used in transformation of Arabidopsis. IiFUL overexpressing Arabidopsis plants exhibited early flowering phenotype, accompanied with the reduction of flower number and the production of terminal flower on the top of the main stems. In development process, the flowers located on the top of the main stems generated a lot of variations in phenotype, including abnormal swelling of pistil, withering and numerical change of stamens and petals, appearance of stigmatoid tissues and naked ovules at the margin or inside of sepals. Besides, secondary flower could be formed within the flowers on the top of the main stems. These observations illustrated that IiFUL mainly affected the development of inflorescence meristems and pistils, but its ectopic expression could also disturb the normal growth of other floral organs. Moreover, the fertile siliques produced by the lateral inflorescences of IiFUL overexpressing Arabidopsis plants showed indehiscent phenotype, and the shape of the cauline leaves was changed significantly. The results of quantitative real-time PCR revealed that higher transcriptional levels of IiFUL could be detected in flowers and silicles of I. indigotica. In comprehensive consideration of the previous reports about the dehiscence phenotype of Arabidopsis siliques and the fact that the siliques of IiFUL overexpressing Arabidopsis plants were indehiscent in the present work, it can be speculated that high expression of IiFUL in pericarp is likely the reason why the silicles of I. indigotica possess an indehiscent phenotype.