As. Pac. J. Mol. Biol. & Biotech., July 2013 Vol. 3, 85-92
Isolation and expression of CONSTANS-like gene in flowering tissues of Teak (Tectona grandis)
Norlia Basherudin, Mohd Rosli Haron, Norwati Adnan and Norwati Muhammad
Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia.
* Author for correspondence: Dr Norlia B. Basherudin
Genetic Unit, Forestry Biotechnology Division, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), 52109 Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel.: 603-62797148, Fax: 603-62804614, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract.
CONSTANS (CO) plays an important role in flower development. In flowering pathways, CO integrates the circadian clock and genes controlling the meristem identity. In an attempt to isolate the CO gene from teak, we have isolated the CO-like 9 (COL9) gene which was found to be expressed in early flowering tissues. The gene was isolated using a PCR-based cDNA screening method followed by 5’-rapid amplification with cDNA ends (RACE). The gene encodes a protein which is 64% identical to COL9 in Vitis vinifera, 64% to COL9 of Glycine max and 54% to COL9 of Arabidopsis; the gene was thus named Tg-COL9. Gene expression analysis on the gene using quantitative real time PCR showed a similar pattern of expression to COL9 of Arabidopsis, indicating the potential involvement of Tg-COL9 in flower development of teak.
