Isolation and characterization of novel genes controlled by short-day treatment in Pharbitis nil

Abstract

The short-day plant Pharbitis [Ipomoea] nil has been a model plant in physiological studies of photoperiodic control of floral initiation. However, molecular mechanisms underlying photoperiodic responses, including the induction of flowering in P. nil, are largely unknown. Here we identified and characterized cDNAs whose expression patterns were different in short- and long-day conditions, based on fluorescent differential display and RNA gel blot analysis, to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of photoperiodic responses in P. nil. The cDNA clones included genes encoding ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, a putative protein kinase, eukaryotic initiation factor eIF-4, a putative aldehyde dehydrogenase, subtilisin-like proteinase, crooked neck (crn)-like protein, and cryptochrome 1. The possible roles of these genes in the photoperiodic response, including the control of flowering time in P. nil, are discussed.