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ARS Home » Midwest Area » East Lansing, Michigan » Sugarbeet and Bean Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #108312
Title: GENE EXPRESSION DURING STRESSED-GERMINATION OF SUGAR BEET (BETA VULGARIS)

Author
item De Los Reyes, Benildo
item McGrath, Jon

Submitted to: Plant and Animal Genome VX Conference Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sugarbeet production is often limited by poor seed germination and stand establishment. This problem can be attributed to a significant extent to the vulnerability of sugarbeet to a wide range of abiotic diseases (i.e. moisture, temperature, and oxygen) during the critical first three weeks after planting. Laboratory tests indicated differential responses of sugarbeet cultivars to germination under complete submergence in water, an in solutions containing H2O2, NaCl, and mannitol. These findings point to genetic variability on the ability of sugarbeets to germinate under optimal and sub-optimal environments. Our hypothesis is that the genetic components of this genetic variation are determined at least in part by a subset of developmentally regulated stress-related genes. Experiments were conducted to investigate the differential responses of gene expression to the enhanced germination of sugarbeet in H2O2 solution (0.3%), and to germination under artificial stress conditions (submergence in water, 150mM NaCl, 200mM mannitol) using cultivar USH20 which shows excellent emergence under stress. Results of mRNA differential display analysis showed a number of genes that were induced or repressed in response to specific treatments. The cDNAs corresponding to these genes are being identified and characterized.