Studies on the regulatory mechanism of petal senescence by micro RNA in ethylene-independent flowers

• Project/Area Number: 25850026
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Horticultural science
• Research Institution: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
• Principal Investigator: Shibuya Kenichi 国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構, 野菜花き研究部門花き生産流通研究領域, 上級研究員 (10462532)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,290,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥990,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
• Keywords: 花弁老化 / アサガオ / マイクロRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

While the phytohormone ethylene is known to play a crucial role in petal senescence in some plant species, little is known about the regulation of ethylene-independent petal senescence. In Japanese morning glory cv. Violet, an ethylene-independent flower, the abundance of microRNA156 (miR156) increased in senescing petals. We analyzed a role of potential target genes of miR156, SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN LIKE (SPL) homologs, in petal senescence. The results suggest that the SPL genes are not involved in the regulation of petal senescence; however, the SPL genes may play a role in the regulation of flowering.