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Identification and expression analysis of seven MADS-box genes from Annona squamosa

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

MADS-box genes encode a family of transcription factors that regulate diverse growth and developmental processes in plants, including flowering. In this study, comprehensive characterization and expression profiling analyses of seven sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.) MADS-box genes were performed using rapid amplification of cDNA ends method. Domain and phylogenetic analyses grouped these seven MADS-box genes into six different clades and they showed high similarity with orthologs in Arabidopsis. Expression patterns of these MADS-box genes were investigated during different flower developmental stages and in various reproductive organs, including petal, stamen, sepal, and pistil. Most of the MADS-box genes studied were least expressed in the sepal and AsAGL67 and AsAGL80 expression was weak in all tissues. AsSEP1 and AsAGAMOUS showed highest expressions in the stamen and pistil, and AsAGL12 showed stamen-specific expression. Dynamic expression patterns of MADS-box genes in different reproductive stages suggest involvement in flower development. Interestingly, a number of these MADS-box genes showed responses to gibberellin, abscisic acid, and salicylic acid treatments, suggesting control of their expression by phytohormones.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

abscisic acid

AG:

AGAMOUS

CaMV:

cauliflower mosaic virus

GA:

gibberellin

GFP:

green fluorescent protein

NJ:

neighbour-joining

RACE:

rapid amplification of cDNA ends

SA:

salicylic acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Life Science and Technology School, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524048, P.R. China

    K. Liu, S. Feng, H. Li, S. Huang, J. Liu & C. Yuan

  2. Zhejiang Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310023, P.R. China

    Y. Jiang

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  1. K. Liu
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  2. S. Feng
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  3. Y. Jiang
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  4. H. Li
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  5. S. Huang
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  6. J. Liu
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  7. C. Yuan
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Correspondence to K. Liu or C. Yuan.

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Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No. 31201586); the Science and Technology Program of Guangdong, China (grant Nos. 2013B020304008 and 2014A020208138); the Key Project of Department of Education of Guangdong Province (grant No. 2013KJCX0124); the Key Laboratory of Zhanjiang Tropical Characteristic Plant Resources Technology Development (grant No. 2014A06008). The first two authors contributed equally to this work.

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Liu, K., Feng, S., Jiang, Y. et al. Identification and expression analysis of seven MADS-box genes from Annona squamosa . Biol Plant 61, 24–34 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-016-0688-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-016-0688-1

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