Regulation of Gene Expression in Senescing Flowers
KEYS TO ETHYLENE GENES ARE WITHIN ENGINEER’S REACH
Genes are the keys to increased longevity. Though it may be a
little late to fiddle with your DNA or mine, there are generations of carnations
bound for production that could be genetically encoded to live extra long
lives. Now, after a decade studying blossoms’ ethylene production and responses,
Dr. William Woodson has keys — within close reach — to coaxing carnations
to keep their petals. Among over 30 genes believed to play a role in flowers’
flagging, Woodson has pinpointed several genes that go to work only during
a carnation blossom’s latest stages of development. The researcher reasons
that if late-stage genes’ instructions could be engineered to override
early ones, carnation vase life could be appreciably extended.
But genetic engineers can’t simply move plant genes around at
will. Genes transferred from one species or spot to another on DNA strands
require chemical escorts called “promoters.” And not just any promoter
will do. Most recently with the support of Endowment funds, Woodson has
been focusing on pinpointing proper promoters for carnation transformation.
He’s recently transformed some petunias with a promising promoter and identified
at least one carnation-gene promoter with potential. Over the next year,
Woodson plans to use these newly identified promoters in engineering especially
long-lived carnation cultivars. And the industry’s research community
is confident of Woodson’s success. Space in the University of Florida’s
greenhouses is tagged for trialing his transformed carnations.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT RESEARCH-PROJECT LEADER:
Dr. William Woodson, Professor and Head of Horticulture, Purdue University
E-MAIL: <wrw@hort.purdue.edu>
