ISHS Acta Horticulturae 560: IV International Symposium on In Vitro Culture and Horticultural Breeding
MANIPULATING THE GIBBERELLIN RESPONSE TO REDUCE PLANT HEIGHT IN CHRYSANTHEMUM MORIFOLIUM |
| Authors: | L.M. Petty, B. Thomas, S.D. Jackson, N. Harberd |
| Keywords: | Chrysanthemum morifolium, gibberellin, gibberellic acid insensitive, dwarfing |
| Abstract:
The aim of this work is to produce a dwarf (pot) chrysanthemum without the need for growth retardant sprays, by heterologous expression of the mutant gai (gibberellic acid insensitive) gene from Arabidopsis thaliana. The wildtype GAI gene encodes a repressor of gibberellin responses which is derepressed by gibberellin itself. The mutant GAI gene from Arabidopsis, gai, has lost the ability to be derepressed by gibberellin and thus continually suppresses gibberellin responses causing a dwarf phenotype. Several transgenic chrysanthemum lines have been produced, which are expressing the transgene and exhibit a range of dwarf phenotypes. Physiological measurements of growth, chlorophyll content and flowering time have demonstrated the extent of the transgene effects. Evidence so far suggests that gai could be used to produce novel pot Chrysanthemum varieties. Further genes are under consideration, which may also be used to change morphological characteristics and flowering time in chrysanthemum. | |
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