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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Geneva, New York » Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #251053
Title: Identification Of Malus ERF Genes Responsive To Waterlogged Conditions In Apple Rootstocks

Author
item YANG, BAI - Cornell University
item Fazio, Gennaro
item ALDWINCKLE, HERBERT - Cornell University
item XU, KENONG - Cornell University

Submitted to: Plant and Animal Genome Conference
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2010
Publication Date: 1/9/2010
Citation: Yang, B., Fazio, G., Aldwinckle, H., Xu, K. 2010. Identification Of Malus ERF Genes Responsive To Waterlogged Conditions In Apple Rootstocks. Plant and Animal Genome Conference.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Plant ERF (ethylene-response-factor) genes are members of the AP2 (APETALA 2)/ERF superfamily of transcription factors specific to plants. Recent advances have demonstrated that ERF genes, such as the Sub1 (Submergence 1) genes and the SK (Snorkel) genes, are essential in low land rice tolerance to complete submergence and in deepwater rice adapting to deepwater environment for a prolonged period. In apple, development of waterlogging tolerant rootstocks has been one of the breeding goals. The new apple rootstock G. 41 recently released by the Geneva Apple Rootstock Breeding Program has been remarkable. It confers not only excellent horticultural traits to scion varieties in production orchards, but also resistance to multiple diseases and tolerance to waterlogging conditions as well. To understand the molecular mechanisms of waterlogging tolerance in apple rootstocks, a strategy using a candidate gene based approach in conjunction with QTL (quantitative trait locus) studies has been adopted. The hypothesis is that a few Malus ERF genes are essential in waterlogging tolerance in apple rootstocks. A preliminary investigation has identified several putative ERF domain containing genes that were inducible by waterlogging stress. More detailed gene expression analyses suggested that distinct patterns of these putative responsive Malus ERF genes could be drawn between roots and leaf tissues. This work is currently underway and progress will be presented.