Two linkage maps were constructed for the model plant Petunia. Mapping populations were obtained by crossing the wild species Petunia axillaris subsp. axillaris with Petunia inflata, and Petunia axillaris subsp. parodii with Petunia exserta. Both maps cover the seven chromosomes of Petunia, and span 970 centimorgans (cM) and 700 cM of the genomes, respectively. In total, 207 markers were mapped...

The Lc petunia system, which displays enhanced, light-induced vegetative pigmentation, was used to investigate how high light affects anthocyanin biosynthesis, and to assess the effects of anthocyanin pigmentation upon photosynthesis. Lc petunia plants displayed intense purple anthocyanin pigmentation throughout the leaves and stems when grown under high-light conditions, yet remain acyanic whe...

In recent years Petunia has become a promising model system for studying the genetics and evolution of pollination syndromes. Here we provide a brief introduction to the issue of pollination syndromes, explain why Petunia is a suitable model for its study, present useful background information about pollinators and plants, review recent studies, and discuss questions related to the genetics and...

We have mapped the transcription start sites of three petunia rbcS genes and reassayed the relative expression levels of the petunia rbcS genes using the technique of primer extension. This analysis was performed specifically to address the confusion in the literature concerning the relative expression levels of the two petunia rbcS genes, SSU301 and SSU11A. The primer extension analysis report...

BACKGROUND Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) has a very wide host range, and is transmitted in a persistent manner by several species of thrips. These characteristics make this virus difficult to control. We show here that the over-expression of the mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) in tomato and petunia is related to TSWV resistance. RESULTS The open reading frame and full-length sequen...

In vivo stable isotope labeling and computer-assisted metabolic flux analysis were used to investigate the metabolic pathways in petunia (Petunia hybrida) cv Mitchell leading from Phe to benzenoid compounds, a process that requires the shortening of the side chain by a C(2) unit. Deuterium-labeled Phe ((2)H(5)-Phe) was supplied to excised petunia petals. The intracellular pools of benzenoid/phe...

Autophagy is one of the main mechanisms of degradation and remobilization of macromolecules, and it appears to play an important role in petal senescence. However, little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of autophagy in petal senescence. Autophagic processes were observed by electron microscopy and monodansylcadaverine staining of senescing petals of petunia (Petunia hybrida); autophagy...

Petunia, which has been prevalently cultivated in landscaping, is a dicotyledonous herbaceous flower of high ornamental value. Annually, there is a massive worldwide market demand for petunia seeds. The normal development of anther is the necessary prerequisite for the plants to generate seeds. However, the knowledge of petunia anther development processes is still limited. To better understand...

The 7S seed storage protein (beta-conglycinin) of soybean (Glycine max [L]. Merr.) has three major subunits; alpha, alpha', and beta. Accumulation of the beta-subunit, but not the alpha- and alpha'-subunits, has been shown to be repressed by exogenously applied methionine to the immature cotyledon culture system (LP Holowach, JF Thompson, JT Madison [1984] Plant Physiol 74: 576-583) and to be e...

Flower senescence is initiated by developmental and environmental signals, and regulated by gene transcription. A homeodomain-leucine zipper transcription factor, PhHD-Zip, is up-regulated during petunia flower senescence. Virus-induced gene silencing of PhHD-Zip extended flower life by 20% both in unpollinated and pollinated flowers. Silencing PhHD-Zip also dramatically reduced ethylene produc...