Sweet cherry MADS-box genes ‘PaAG‘ and ‘PaSHP‘ homologous to class C floral identity genes

The occurrence of double fruits, resulting from double pistil formation, is a major problem in warm regions.
High temperature induces not only the formation of double pistils but also that of pistil-like appendages which replace anthers.
Thus, B and C classes of homeotic genes, which lead to stamen and pistil formation, might be involved in these symptoms.
In this study, we isolated from sweet cherry two cDNA clones [PaAG (Prunus avium AGAMOUS) and PaSHP (Prunus avium SHATTERPROOF)] homologous to class C MADS-box genes (AGAMOUS). PaAG and PaSHP showed very high similarity to euAG lineage and PLE lineage of AGAMOUS of other Rosaceae species, respectively.
The deduced amino acid sequences of both genes contained a MADS-box and a K-box, which were conserved among the products of AGAMOUS homologues from various species.
In the C-terminal end of these genes, there were the AG motif I and AG motif II sequences.
Both the PaAG and PaSHP genes were expressed specifically in stamens and carpels, which were the same expression patterns as those of AGAMOUS. These results indicated that both PaAG and PaSHP were homologues of AGAMOUS.

VII International Cherry Symposium

K. Beppu, H. Sumida, I. Kataoka

AGAMOUS, class C MADS-box gene, double pistils, Prunus avium, SHATTERPROOF

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1161.8