Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sugarbeet and Potato Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #238487

Title: Chemical Manipulation of Meristem Dormancy Alters Transcript Profiles in Potato

Author
item CAMPBELL, MICHAEL - Pennsylvania State University
item Suttle, Jeffrey

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2009
Publication Date: 6/8/2009
Citation: Campbell, M.A., Suttle, J.C. 2009. Chemical Manipulation of Meristem Dormancy Alters Transcript Profiles in Potato [abstract.] 4th International Symposium on Plant Dormancy Program and Abstract Book. Page 46.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The dormancy status of potato tuber meristems can be manipulated by a variety of chemical treatments. The application of bromoethane (BE) results in dormancy cessation, while chlorpropham (CIPC), and 1,4-dimethyl naphthalene (DMN) are used commercially to prolong the dormant state. Transcript analysis was conducted on dormant and nondormant potato tuber meristems treated with BE, DMN, and CIPC using a TIGR 10K cDNA microarray. Comparisons were also made against meristems that were allowed to progress normally through the dormancy cycle. Total RNA from dormant, nondormant, active shoot, BE, DMN, and CIPC-treated potato meristems was labeled and hybridized to twenty-three microarrays. Transcript profiles specific to each condition were ascertained. Normal dormancy cessation and BE-induced dormancy cessation resulted in similarities in expression profiles particularly with decreases in the ABA inducible BURP class of proteins. Prolongation of dormancy in tubers treated with DMN and CIPC supported the association of ABA inducible transcripts with the dormant state. Specific expression profiles associated with CIPC treatment resulted in large-scale suppression of genes associated with plastid development. DMN resulted in a large relative increase in transcripts associated with regulation of osmotic potential including osmotin, thaumatin, and the germin class of proteins. Comparison and description of gene profile changes demonstrated similarities between the dormant state and chemical suppression of growth. Quantitative PCR was utilized to examine expression levels of transcripts associated with cell division control (PCNA, KIP1, KIP2) as well confirm profiles of other transcripts determine by microarray analysis to be associated with dormancy and chemical suppression of growth.