ARS | Publication request: Gene Expression Associated with Tuber Wound-Healing/Suberization

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 24, 2010
Publication Date: August 15, 2010
Citation: Lulai, E.C., Neubauer, J. 2010. Gene expression associated with tuber wound-healing/suberization [abstract.] Potato Association of America. Abstract 115. p.120.

Technical Abstract: Wounding of potatoes during harvest and handling operations results in tuber shrinkage, market quality defects and infection. Suberization and other wound-healing processes that mitigate these losses are of great agricultural importance. Previously, we determined that suberin poly(phenolics) and suberin poly(aliphatics) respectively provided barriers to bacterial and fungal infections. The accumulation of these suberin biopolymers had been determined at the cellular level via microcopy. Expression profiles are now being determined for selected genes involved in the biosynthesis of these suberin biopolymers. Our objective is to develop a cadre of candidate genes that may mark the processes associated with wound-induced suberization. Wound-healing includes the development of a closing layer, i.e. suberization of existing cell walls located at the wound surface, followed by development of an underlying wound periderm. Like native-periderm, wound-periderm is made up of phellem (skin), phellogen (meristematic cell layer or cork cambium) and phelloderm (cortical cells derived from the phellogen) cells. The phellem is formed by the meristematic action of the phellogen and, like the closing layer, it is suberized. Wounding activates a cascade of genes encompassing these healing processes. After the closing layer is formed and wound-periderm development reaches completion, the induced genes are turned off. Transcripts of selected wound-healing genes have been amplified and their identities confirmed by sequencing. Expression profiles of the genes were determined by qRT-PCR during tuber wound-healing. The resulting expression patterns provide insight into possible use of these genes as markers as we continue to determine the mechanisms regulating suberization and other wound-healing processes.