Isolation and characterization of almond genes involved in flowering time

ITQB PhD Seminar

Title: Isolation and characterization of almond genes involved in flowering time

Speaker: Milene Costa

Laboratory: Plant Genetic Engineering

Abstract
Almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) is a fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae, an economically very important family. Flowering is a key issue for species’ survival and reproductive success with obvious importance for fruit production, but knowledge about flowering mechanisms is only starting to be resolved nowadays. In this work we are studying the expression of almond genes involved in flowering time, such as floral organ identity genes (PrdMADS), integrators of several inductive pathways (almond sequences with homology to FLORICAULA/LEAFY gene (PrdFL) and FLOWERING LOCUS T gene (FT) respectively) and genes involved in circadian clock (almond sequences with homology to CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1) and EARLY FLOWERING 4 (ELF4)). From previous work, floral organ identity genes (PrdMADS1, 2 and 3) were already isolated from almond and found to fall in the D class (specific expression in carpels), A and E classes (expressed in flower development) of the revised ABC flowering model, respectively. We are now characterizing PrdMADS and PrdFL in a model system (Arabidopsis thaliana) to estimate their function in flowering. Fragments of genes putatively involved in circadian clock and output pathway were also isolated from almond (CCA1, ELF4 and FT). These sequences show homology to Arabidopsis genes, described as involved in circadian clock. The fragments obtained so far are being extended by RACE-PCR and the full length of these genes will be used to study the possible involvement in almond flowering. This study will increase the knowledge about flowering time in woody fruit trees such as almond.

Short CV

2003: Graduated in Applied Plant Biology in Faculdade de Ciências of Universidade de Lisboa

2003-2006: BI fellowship on the project POCTI/AGG/38507/2001 “Adventitious organogenesis in almond: a histological and molecular approach” in Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica (ITQB).
2006: PhD student in Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory under the supervision of Prof Margarida Oliveira and Dra Ana Sanchez.