ARS | Publication request: ECTOPIC EXPRESSION OF ARABIDOPSIS AP2 DOMAIN TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR BABY BOOM GENE ALTERS LEAF MORPHOLOGY AND FERTILITY IN TRANSGENIC NICOTIANA TABACUM

Submitted to: American Society of Plant Biologists Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 1, 2004
Publication Date: July 24, 2004
Citation: Srinivasan, C., Liu, Z., Scorza, R. 2004. Ectopic expression of arabidopsis AP2 domain transcription factor baby boom gene alters leaf morphology and fertility in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum. American Society of Plant Biologists. Abstract #739.

Technical Abstract: The Arabidopsis BABY BOOM (BBM) gene shows similarity to the AP2/EREPB multigene family of transcription factors, unique to plants which regulate plant development and hormonal signaling. Ectopic expression of BBM in Nicotiana tabacum cv Wisconsin altered leaf and flower morphology and fertility. Transgenic N. tabacum plants containing BBM were relatively short, grew slowly and flowered late. Leaves exhibited wavy margin and inter veinal areas of laminae were depressed. Trangenic plants produced white flowers with long calices and short filaments, while the control plants produced pinkish flowers with short calices. Pollen germination was low and ovules appeared to be sterile. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic analyses of leaves and flowers of control and transgenic plants showed alterations in morphology and ultrastructural structures. Molecular characterization of BABY BOOM gene expression in transgenic N. tabacum will be presented.