Overexpression of RcFUSCA3, a B3 transcription factor from the PLB in Rosa canina, activates starch accumulation and induces male sterility in Arabidopsis

Abstract

A homologue of the Arabidopsis gene FUSCA3 (FUS3), isolated from the protocorm-like body (PLB) of Rosa canina and designated RcFUS3, encodes 331 amino acid residues. It was shown that RcFUS3 is specifically expressed in the PLB of R. canina and that its subcellular localization is in the nucleus. The Arabidopsis fus3-3 mutant phenotype could be rescued by over-expression of RcFUS3, suggesting that RcFUS3 has a function similar to that of Arabidopsis FUS3. Over-expression of RcFUS3 in wild type Arabidopsis resulted in a decrease in endogenous GA and CTK levels, an increase in ABA and IAA contents, starch grain accumulation in the cotyledon and hypocotyl, failure of cotyledon extension and abnormal elongation of the hypocotyl, abnormal stomatal and pavement cells, an increase in branch numbers, prolongation of the growth cycle, and morphological changes in floral organs. Interestingly, over-expression of RcFUS3 in homozygous form resulted in premature degradation of the tapetum, indehiscent anthers and hypogenetic stamens, causing complete male sterility in Arabidopsis; this is the first observation that over-expression of a gene (RcFUS3) homologous to FUS3 can lead to male sterility and starch grain accumulation in Arabidopsis.