Characterization of HemY-type protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase genes from cyanobacteria and their functioning in transgenic Arabidopsis.

We investigated the functions of two cyanobacterial HemY protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PPO) genes with in vitro and in vivo assays and evaluated their applicability as resistance traits to PPO-inhibiting herbicides. We isolated HemY-type protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PPO) genes from cyanobacteria, OnPPO gene from Oscillatoria nigro-viridis PCC7112 and HaPPO gene from Halothece sp. PCC7418.

Biochemical and physiological mode of action of tiafenacil, a new protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase-inhibiting herbicide.

We conducted biochemical and physiological experiments to investigate the mode of action of tiafenacil (Terrad'or™), a new protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PPO)-inhibiting pyrimidinedione herbicide. Analysis of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC) against recombinant PPO enzymes from various plant species, including amaranth (Amaranthus tuberculatus), soybean (Glycine max), arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), and rapeseed (Brassica napus), showed that tiafenacil had an IC of 22 to 28 nM, similar to the pyrimidinedione herbicides butafenacil and saflufenacil and the N-phenylphthalimide herbicide flumioxazin. By contrast, tiafenacil exhibited 3- to 134-fold lower IC values than the diphenyl ether herbicides fomesafen, oxyfluorfen, and acifluorfen.

Isolation and promoter analysis of anther-specific genes encoding putative arabinogalactan proteins in Malus x domestica.

In this study, we searched for anther-specific genes involved in male gametophyte development in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh. cv. Fuji) by differential display-PCR.

Allelic discrimination of the Restorer-of-fertility gene and its inheritance in peppers (Capsicum annuum L.).

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), one of the most important traits in crop breeding, is used for commercial F(1)-hybrid seed production in peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). A nuclear gene, Restorer-of-fertility (Rf), can induce normal pollen production in CMS plants resulting in fertility.

The salicylic acid-induced protection of non-climacteric unripe pepper fruit against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is similar to the resistance of ripe fruit.

The anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides deleteriously affects unripe pepper fruit, but not ripe fruit. Here, we show that the induction of local acquired resistance (LAR) by salicylic acid (SA), 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid, or benzo-(1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester pretreatment protects unripe pepper fruit against the fungus, while jasmonic acid (JA) does not. The SA-mediated LAR in the unripe fruit inhibited the fungal appressoria, resulting in protection against fungal infection.

Identification of highly variable chloroplast sequences and development of cpDNA-based molecular markers that distinguish four cytoplasm types in radish (Raphanus sativus L.).

Four types of cytoplasms (Ogura, DCGMS, DBRMF1, and DBRMF2) were identified in the previous studies using molecular markers based on mitochondrial genome variations in radish (Raphanus sativus L.). However, mtDNA markers have limitations in obtaining clear results due to complexity of radish mitochondrial genomes.

Identification of mitochondrial genome rearrangements unique to novel cytoplasmic male sterility in radish (Raphanus sativus L.).

A novel cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS) radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and its associated mitotype (DCGMS) were previously identified; however, no mtDNA fragments flanking the atp6 gene were found in the DCGMS mitotype. Unlike three other mitotypes in this study, a unique mtDNA organization, atp6-nad3-rps12, was found to be the major mtDNA structure associated with this mitotype.

Discovery of a novel cytoplasmic male-sterility and its restorer lines in radish (Raphanus sativus L.).

A male-sterile (MS) radish (Raphanus sativus L.) was found in an accession collected from Uzbekistan. Unlike Ogura MS radishes in which no pollen grain is typically visible during anthesis, a small number of pollen grains stuck together in the dehiscing anthers was observed in the newly identified MS radish.

Structure and expression of MdFBCP1, encoding an F-box-containing protein 1, during Fuji apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) fruit ripening.

From database comparisons of 1,117 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) generated from ripened Fuji apple fruits, we identified ten ubiquitin (Ub)-related genes. RNA gel-blot analysis suggests that these Ub-related genes are induced by at least four distinct signaling pathways in fruits. In this study, we analyzed structure and expression of MdFBCP1, encoding an F-box-containing protein 1, in Fuji apples.

Identification of a third haplotype of the sequence linked to the Restorer-of-fertility (Rf) gene and its implications for male-sterility phenotypes in peppers (Capsicum annuum L.).

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), one of the most important traits in crop breeding, has been used for commercial seed production by F1 hybrid cultivars of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). To develop reliable molecular markers for allelic selection of the Restorer-of-fertility (Rf) gene, which is known to be a major determinant of pollen fertility restoration in peppers, a sequence of approximately 10 kb flanking an RAPD fragment closely linked to the Rf locus was obtained by genome walking.

Identification of a novel mitochondrial genome type and development of molecular markers for cytoplasm classification in radish (Raphanus sativus L.).

Plant mitochondrial genomes have complex configurations resulting from the multipartite structures and highly rearranged substoichiometric molecules created by repetitive sequences. To expedite the reliable classification of the diverse radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cytoplasmic types, we have developed consistent molecular markers within their complex mitochondrial genomes.

Expression of MdCAS1 and MdCAS2, encoding apple beta-cyanoalanine synthase homologs, is concomitantly induced during ripening and implicates MdCASs in the possible role of the cyanide detoxification in Fuji apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) fruits.

Fruit ripening involves complex biochemical and physiological changes. Ethylene is an essential hormone for the ripening of climacteric fruits. In the process of ethylene biosynthesis, cyanide (HCN), an extremely toxic compound, is produced as a co-product.

Microarray analysis of apple gene expression engaged in early fruit development.

To evaluate gene expressions mostly engaged in early development of apple fruit, we performed the identification of transcripts differentially expressed in young fruit by using microarrays spotted with 6,253 cDNAs collected from young and mature apple fruits of the cultivar Fuji (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Fuji).

Lys296 and Arg299 residues in the C-terminus of MD-ACO1 are essential for a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase enzyme activity.

The 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) oxidase catalyzes the last step in the biosynthesis of ethylene from ACC in higher plants. The complex structure of ACC oxidase/Fe(2+)/H(2)O derived from Petunia hybrida has recently been established by X-ray crystallography and it provides a vast structural information for ACC oxidase. Our mutagenesis study shows that both Lys296 and Arg299 residues in the C-terminal helix play important roles in enzyme activity.

The active site and substrate-binding mode of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase determined by site-directed mutagenesis and comparative modelling studies.

The active site and substrate-binding mode of MD-ACO1 (Malus domestica Borkh. 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase) have been determined using site-directed mutagenesis and comparative modelling methods. The MD-ACO1 protein folds into a compact jelly-roll motif comprised of eight a-helices, 12 b-strands and several long loops.