Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prevention of flower development in birch and other plants using a BpFULL1::BARNASE construct

  • Genetic Transformation and Hybridization
  • Published:
Plant Cell Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The prevention of flower formation is important for avoiding the spread of transgenes from genetically modified plants into wild populations. Moreover, the resources not expended for the generation of flowers and fruits might be allocated to increased vegetative growth. We have been developing methods for preventing flower formation in silver birch (Betula pendula), a tree species of considerable economical importance in the boreal region. Here we study the suitability of the promoter of BpFRUITFULL-LIKE1 (BpFULL1, formerly BpMADS5) for tissue-specific ablation of inflorescences in Arabidopsis, tobacco and birch. With all these species, the development of inflorescences was successfully prevented. The results show that the BpFULL1::BARNASE construct has potential biotechnological applications in different plant species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkinson MD (1992) Biological flora of the British isles. Betula pendula Roth (B. verrucosa Ehrh.) and B. pubescens Ehrh. J Ecol 80:837–870

    Google Scholar 

  • Beals TP, Goldberg RB (1997) A novel cell ablation strategy blocks tobacco anther dehiscence. Plant Cell 9:1527–1545

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bechtold N, Ellis J, Pelletier G (1993) In planta Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer by infiltration of adult Arabidopsis thaliana plants. C R Acad Sci Ser D 316:1194–1199

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgess DG, Ralston EJ, Hanson WG, Heckert M, Ho M, Jenq T, Palys JM, Tang K, Gutterson N (2002) A novel, two-component system for cell lethality and its use in engineering nuclear male-sterility in plants. Plant J 31:113–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elo A, Lemmetyinen J, Turunen M-L, Tikka L, Sopanen T (2001) Three MADS-box genes similar to APETALA1 and FRUITFULL from silver birch (Betula pendula). Physiol Plant 112:95–103

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrandiz C, Gu Q, Martienssen R, Yanofsky MF (2000a) Redundant regulation of meristem identity and plant architecture by FRUITFULL, APETALA1 and CAULIFLOWER. Development 127:725–734

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrandiz C, Liljegren SJ, Yanofsky MF (2000b) Negative regulation of the SHATTERPROOF genes by FRUITFULL during arabidopsis fruit development. Science 289:436–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman MHS, Goldberg RB, Mariani C (1994) Female sterile tobacco plants are produced by stigma-specific cell ablation. EMBO J 13:2976–2984

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu Q, Ferrandiz C, Yanofsky MF, Martienssen R (1998) The FRUITFULL MADS-box gene mediates cell differentiation during Arabidopsis fruit development. Development 125:1509–1517

    Google Scholar 

  • Horsch RB, Fry JE, Hoffmann NL, Eichholtz D, Rogers SG, Fraley RT (1985) A simple and general method for transferring genes into plants. Science 227:1229–1231

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Järvinen P, Lemmetyinen J, Savolainen O, Sopanen T (2003) DNA sequence variation in BpMADS2 gene in two populations of Betula pendula. Mol Ecol 12:369–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keinonen K (1999) Towards genetic manipulation of silver birch (Betula pendula) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). PhD thesis, University of Joensuu, Finland

  • Lemmetyinen J, Keinonen-Mettälä K, Lännenpää M, von Weissenberg K, Sopanen T (1998) Activity of the CaMV 35S promoter in various parts of transgenic early flowering birch clones. Plant Cell Rep 18:243–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemmetyinen J, Pennanen T, Lännenpää M, Sopanen T (2001) Prevention of flower formation in dicotyledons. Mol Breed 7:341–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemmetyinen J, Hassinen M, Elo A, Porali I, Keinonen K, Mäkelä H, Sopanen T (2004a) Functional characterisation of SEPALLATA3 and AGAMOUS orthologues in silver birch. Physiol Plant 121:149–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemmetyinen J, Keinonen K, Sopanen T (2004b) Prevention of the flowering of a tree, silver birch. Mol Breed 13:243–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Longman KA, Wareing PF (1959) Early induction of flowering in birch seedlings. Nature 184:2037–2038

    Google Scholar 

  • Lännenpää M, Jänönen I, Hölttä-Vuori M, Gardemeister M, Porali I, Sopanen T (2004) A new SBP-box gene BpSPL1 in silver birch (Betula pendula). Physiol Plant 120:491–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald AD, Mothersill DH (1986) Shoot development in Betula papyrifera. VI. Development of the reproductive structures. Can J Bot 65:466–475

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandel MA, Yanofsky MF (1995) The arabidopsis AGL8 MADS box gene is expressed in inflorescence meristems and is negatively regulated by APETALA1. Plant Cell 7:1763–1771

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mariani C, De Beuckeleer M, Truettner J, Leemans J, Goldberg RB (1990) Induction of male sterility in plants by a chimaeric ribonuclease gene. Nature 347:737–741

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murashige T, Skoog F (1962) A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol Plant 15:473–497

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pappinen A, Degefu Y, Syrjälä L, Keinonen K, Weissenberg K (2002) Transgenic silver birch (Betula pendula) expressing sugarbeet chitinase 4 shows enhanced resistance to Pyrenopeziza betulicola. Plant Cell Rep 20:1046–1051

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul W, Hodge R, Smartt S, Draper J, Scott R (1992) The isolation and characterisation of the tapetum-specific Arabidopsis thaliana A9 gene. Plant Mol Biol 19:611–622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viherä-Aarnio A, Ryynänen L (1994) Seed production of micropropagated plants, grafts and seedlings of birch in a seed orchard. Silva Fenn 28:257–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Vivian-Smith A, Luo M, Chaudhury A, Koltunow A (2001) Fruit development is actively restricted in the absence of fertilization in Arabidopsis. Development 128:2321–2331

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank H. Hakulinen and R. Pietarinen for their skilful technical assistance. We are grateful to Prof. J. Kangasjärvi for the genomic library of birch and R.W. Hartley for providing the pMT1002 plasmid containing the BARNASE/BARSTAR genes. This work was funded by the Academy of Finland, TEKES (as part of the Finnish Biodiversity Programme, FIBRE), the Graduate School of Biology and Biotechnology of Forest Trees, The Finnish Cultural Foundation and the Department of Biology, the University of Joensuu.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Joensuu, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    M. Lännenpää, M. Hassinen, A. Ranki, M. Hölttä-Vuori, J. Lemmetyinen, K. Keinonen & T. Sopanen

Authors
  1. M. Lännenpää
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Hassinen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Ranki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Hölttä-Vuori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Lemmetyinen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. K. Keinonen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. T. Sopanen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Lännenpää.

Additional information

Communicated by R. Reski

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lännenpää, M., Hassinen, M., Ranki, A. et al. Prevention of flower development in birch and other plants using a BpFULL1::BARNASE construct. Plant Cell Rep 24, 69–78 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-004-0903-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-004-0903-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation