Novel NF-Y genes expressed during somatic embryogenesis in Medicago truncatula

Abstract

Somatic embryogenesis is widely used in biotechnology as a regeneration process conditioning many protocols for plant transformation and in vitro propagation. The main objective of this study was to search for new potential somatic embryogenesis regulators among the genes belonging to the NF-Y family and to analyse the mechanism of their action in Medicago truncatula. We found that two LEC1-type NF-YB genes, MtNF-YB3 and 10, are highly expressed in the calli of the embryogenic 2HA line during somatic embryogenesis in M. truncatula. Overexpression of these genes did not have a significant effect on the somatic embryogenesis capacity. Several genes from NF-YA and C groups with high expression levels during somatic embryogenesis were found. We demonstrated that transcription factors, encoded by some of them, were able to interact with MtNF-YB3 and 10, and overexpression of one of these genes, MtNF-YA3, increased callus weight. The results obtained provide new information about NF-Y genes functioning during plant regeneration and can be used for the search of new somatic embryogenesis stimulants.