A reverse genetic approach to analyze sex determination systems in plants using a virus vector

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26850014
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Horticultural science
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Principal Investigator: FUJITA NAOKO 東京農工大学, (連合)農学研究科(研究院), 研究員 (50646966)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ウイルスベクター / 植物の性 / 機能解析 / ALSV / ヒロハノマンテマ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

White campion (Silene latifolia) is a dioecious flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, also known as a model system for the study of plant sex determination. In this study, for the purpose of the identification of a plant sex-determination gene, we have developed an infection method for VIGS (Virus Induced Gene Silencing) system in S. latifolia. VIGS is an efficient method for gene functional analysis without transformation. To develop the VIGS system using a virus vector localizing in floral meristem tissues, named ALSV, we have optimized the ALSV infection method in S. latifolia. Our developed method resulted in a systemic infection with ALSV, indicating that the VIGS can be applied for the identification of sex-determination gene in S. latifolia.

Free Research Field

植物病理