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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Plant Gene Expression Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #108009
Title: HETEROLOGOUS EXPRESSION OF ARABIDOPSIS PHYTOCHROME B IN TRANSGENIC POTATO INFLUENCES PHOTOSYNTHETIC PERFORMANCE AND TUBER DEVELOPMENT

Author
item QUAIL, PETER - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item THIELE, A. - GEORG AUGUST GOTTINGEN GE
item HEROLD, M. - GEORG AUGUST GOTTINGEN GE
item LENK, I. - GEORG AUGUST GOTTINGEN GE
item GATZ, C. - GEORG AUGUST GOTTINGEN GE

Submitted to: Plant Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Quail, P.H., Thiele, A., Herold, M., Lenk, I., Gatz, C. 1999. Heterologous expression of Arabidopsis phytochrome B in transgenic potato influences photosynthetic performance and tuber development. Plant Physiology 120:73-82.

Interpretive Summary: Transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants expressing Arabidopsis phytochrome B were characterized morphologically and physiologically under white light in a greenhouse to explore their potential for improved photosynthesis and higher tuber yields.

Technical Abstract: Transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants expressing Arabidopsis phytochrome B were characterized morphologically and physiologically under white light in a greenhouse to explore their potential for improved photosynthesis and higher tuber yields. As expected, overexpression of functional phytochrome B caused pleiotropic effects such as semidwarfism, decreased apical dominance, a higher number of smaller but thicker leaves, and increased pigmentation. Because of increased numbers of chloroplasts in elongated palisade cells, photosynthesis per leaf area and in each individual plant increased. In addition, photosynthesis was less sensitive to photoinactivation under prolonged light stress. The beginning of senescence was not delayed, but deceleration of chlorophyll degradation extended the lifetime of photosynthetically active plants. Both the higher photosynthetic performance and the longer lifespan of the transgenic plants sallowed greater biomass production, resulting in extended underground organs with increased tuber yields.