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Abstract Detail



Dugan, Gemma [1], Hayes, Daniel [1], Jordon-Thaden, Ingrid [2], MARTINE , CHRISTOPHER T [3].

Development of sex-specific DNA-based assay for dioecious spiny solanums: Preliminary results.

In greenhouse studies, dioecious spiny solanums take 6-9 months to begin flowering. The vegetative stage of the growth cycle has no obvious sex-specific characters. Both Solanum asymmetriphyllum and Solanum sejunctum are being developed as model systems for research on dioecy, pollination and herbivory. Being able to sex-identify plants earlier would conserve resources and enable increased research productivity. In order to find a way to detect sexuality in vegetative plants, we are attempting to develop sex-specific DNA markers. Using a known method for a DNA-based assay that uses restriction enzymes to cut candidate genes, we have looked for unique banding patterns between male and female plants. Candidate genes were chosen based on their potential role in flower and fruit development with hopes of identifying a genetic difference between the sexes. The first two genes chosen for this test were miraculin and anantha. Miraculin is a glycoprotein found in some fruits, and a miraculin homologue has been sequenced in Solanum melongena (eggplant). Anantha is a gene shown in Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) to code for a polypeptide that influences development of inflorescence meristems.  We have successfully amplified these homologues in both S. asymmetriphyllum and S. sejunctum and used different combinations of restriction enzymes to digest the amplified genes to create electrophoretic profiles to be used to differentiate between male and female plants. These methods were tested on ~300 individuals, some of which have already begun flowering. Preliminary results show these genes do not have a sex-specific length or mutation pattern that can be detected with these methods. It is possible that the sexual determination can only be seen in the expression of certain genes, and may not be observable until floral development begins.


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1 - Bucknell University, 203 Biology Building, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, USA
2 - Bucknell University, Biology, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, USA
3 - Bucknell University, Biological Sciences, 203 Biology Building, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, USA

Keywords:
Solanum
sex-specific primers
dioecy.

Presentation Type: Array
Session: TBA
Location: Rapids/Grove
Date: Tuesday, July 29th, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM
Number: 008
Abstract ID:374
Candidate for Awards:None


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