Prunus Hexokinase 3 genes alter primary C-metabolism and promote drought and salt stress tolerance in Arabidopsis transgenic plants.

Hexokinases (HXKs) and fructokinases (FRKs) are the only two families of enzymes in plants that have been identified as able to phosphorylate Glucose (Glc) and Fructose (Fru). Glc can only be phosphorylated in plants by HXKs, while Fru can be phosphorylated by either HXKs or FRKs. The various subcellular localizations of HXKs in plants indicate that they are involved in diverse functions, including anther dehiscence and pollen germination, stomatal closure in response to sugar levels, stomatal aperture and reducing transpiration.

Identifying and validating housekeeping hybrid Prunus spp. genes for root gene-expression studies.

Prunus rootstock belonging to subgenera Amygdalus (peach), Prunus (plum) and Cerasus (cherry) are either from the same species as the scion or another one. The number of inter-species (including inter-subgenera) hybrids has increased as a result of broadening the genetic basis for stress (biotic and abiotic) resistance/tolerance. Identifying genes associated with important traits and responses requires expression analysis.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals novel roles of transcription factors and hormones during the flowering induction and floral bud differentiation in sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium L. cv. Bing).

In sweet cherry trees, flowering is commercially important because the flowers, after fertilization, will generate the fruits. In P. avium, the flowering induction and flower organogensis are the first developmental steps towards flower formation and they occur within specialized organs known as floral buds during the summer, nine months before blooming.

Genome-wide SNP identification in Prunus rootstocks germplasm collections using Genotyping-by-Sequencing: phylogenetic analysis, distribution of SNPs and prediction of their effect on gene function.

Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) was applied in a set of 53 diploid Prunus rootstocks and five scion cultivars from three subgenera (Amygdalus, Prunus and Cerasus) for genome-wide SNP identification and to assess genetic diversity of both Chilean and Spanish germplasm collections. A group of 45,382 high quality SNPs (MAF >0.05; missing data <5%) were selected for analysis of this group of 58 accessions.

Identification and Characterization of Microsatellite Loci in Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis [Molina] Stunz) Using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).

Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis [Molina] Stunz) is a small dioecious tree native to South America with edible fruit characterized by very high antioxidant capacity and anthocyanin content. To preserve maqui as a genetic resource it is essential to study its genetic diversity. However, the complete genome is unknown and only a few gene sequences are available in databases.

Epigenetic repressor-like genes are differentially regulated during grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) development.

Grapevine sexual reproduction involves a seasonal separation between inflorescence primordia (flowering induction) and flower development. We hypothesized that a repression mechanism implicating epigenetic changes could play a role in the seasonal separation of these two developmental processes in grapevine. Therefore, the expression of five grapevine genes with homology to the Arabidopsis epigenetic repressor genes FERTILIZATION INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM (FIE), EMBRYONIC FLOWER 2 (EMF2), CURLY LEAF (CLF), MULTICOPY SUPPRESSOR OF IRA 1 (MSI1) and SWINGER (SWN) was analyzed during the development of buds and vegetative and reproductive organs.

Chromosome studies in Orchidaceae from Argentina.

The center of diversity of Argentinean orchids is in the northeast region of the country. Chromosome numbers and karyotype features of 43 species belonging to 28 genera are presented here. Five chromosome records are the first ones at the genus level; these taxa are Aspidogyne kuckzinskii (2n = 42), Eurystyles actinosophila (2n = 56), Skeptrostachys paraguayensis (2n = 46), Stigmatosema polyaden (2n = 40) and Zygostates alleniana (2n = 54).

VvCO and VvCOL1, two CONSTANS homologous genes, are regulated during flower induction and dormancy in grapevine buds.

Two previously uncharacterized Vitis vinifera CONSTANS-like genes (VvCO, VvCOL1), which are predicted to encode proteins with homology to members of the Arabidopis CONSTANS family, were identified. Under controlled conditions, both genes show a diurnal expression pattern with peak at dawn. During grapevine bud development, VvCOL1 is mainly expressed in dormancy, suggesting a participation in the transcriptional photoperiod control of bud dormancy induction and maintenance in this species.