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Abstract Detail



Evolutionary Developmental Biology (Evo-Devo)

Schulte, Ansley Grace [1], Berger, Brent A. [1], Ricigliano, Vincent [1], Boyden, Geraldine [1], Howarth, Dianella [1].

Virus-Induced Gene Silencing of PDS in Fedia graciliflora.

RNA-silencing is a technique that utilizes the naturally occurring defense mechanisms of plants to suppress expression of specific genes, and thereby, provide improved understanding of gene function. One readily used method is virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), which uses a viral vector to infect plant tissue, usually through an Agrobacterium-mediated manner. In this study we use an Agrobacterium-mediated TRV (tobacco rattlesnake virus) silencing strategy to introduce a fragment of a host target gene into Fedia graciliflora (Valerianaceae). A previous study demonstrated the ability to “knock-down” phytoene desaturase (PDS)—a key enzyme involved at the beginning of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway—using VIGS in Fedia cornucopiae, a closely related species to F. graciliflora. We hypothesized that the phylogenetic relatedness of the two species would allow for heterologous gene silencing using the same 444 bp fragment of PDS. Qualitatively, we observed the characteristic photobleaching in leaves that developed after inoculation suggestive of PDS “knock-down.” We confirmed PDS suppression quantitatively via qRT-PCR and found significantly lower levels of transcript in infected plant tissues.

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1 - St. John's University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY, 11439, USA

Keywords:
VIGS
Fedia graciliflora
Valerianaceae
phytoene desaturase.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Grand Salon A - D/Riverside Hilton
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2013
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PEV003
Abstract ID:671
Candidate for Awards:None


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