Authors: F Morcillo A Gallard M Pillot S Jouannic F AberlencBertossi M Collin J L Verdeil J W Tregear
Publish Date: 2007/07/13
Volume: 226, Issue: 6, Pages: 1353-1362
Abstract
In order to better understand the developmental processes that govern the formation of somatic embryos in oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacq we investigated the transcription factor genes expressed during embryogenesis in this species The AP2/EREBP transcription factor family includes the AP2 subgroup which contains several proteins that play important roles in plant development We identified and characterized EgAP21 which codes for a protein that contains two AP2 domains similar to those of the transcription factor BABYBOOM BBM and more generally AINTEGUMENTAlike AIL proteins of the AP2 subgroup In a similar way to related genes from eudicots ectopic expression of EgAP21 in transgenic Arabidopsis plants alters leaf morphology and enhances regeneration capacity In oil palm EgAP21 transcripts accumulate to the greatest extent in zygotic embryos This expression pattern was investigated in more detail by insitu hybridization revealing that in both zygotic and somatic embryos EgAP21 expression is concentrated in proliferating tissues associated with the early development of leaf primordia root initials and provascular tissuesWe thank Frédérique Richaud for help in cDNA library screening The authors acknowledge the generous support of colleagues at INRAB Pobé Experimental Station in Benin FELDA Agriculture Services in Malaysia and ASD Coto in Costa Rica for providing plant material We are grateful to Timothy Tranbarger for critical reading of the manuscript
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