Gene expression analysis during somatic and zygotic embryo development in Araucari...
| Grant number: | 14/11228-5 |
| Support type: | Regular Research Grants |
| Duration: | November 01, 2014 - January 31, 2017 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Botany |
| Principal Investigator: | Eny Iochevet Segal Floh |
| Grantee: | Eny Iochevet Segal Floh |
| Home Institution: | Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
| Assoc. researchers: | André Luiz Wendt dos Santos ; Paula Maria Elbl |
Abstract
Embryogenesis is a complex, highly organized biological process that plays a central role in the life cycle of an organism. More specifically for gymnosperms, zygotic and somatic embryogenesis (SE) models have been proven to be promising tools in elementary studies on cell biology, physiology and biochemistry as well as on large-scale vegetative propagation and the establishment of in vitro germplasm banks. Although clonal propagation and ex situ conservation of elite genotypes based on SE is now a consolidated method for a number of gymnosperm species, the adoption of suboptimal conditions during in vitro growth of somatic polyembryos has restricted its use in Araucaria angustifolia. One of the approaches developed to correctly handle in vitro embryos is based on comparative investigations between zygotic and somatic embryogenesis. In line with previous studies conducted in BIOCEL/IB/USP, realized during the last fifteen years, the present research project has as main objective to integrate transcriptome and proteome platforms to study signaling molecules and growth regulators metabolic routes during A. angustifolia embryogenesis. For this purpose physiological, biochemical, and molecular parameters, including the recent established transcriptomic database for embryogenesis in A. angustifolia (FAPESP project proc. 2011/51659-7) will be utilized. Results will be used for metabolic routes study concerning polyamines, auxin, ethylene, nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, abscísico acid, and salicylic acid. These studies will pave the way for a more in-depth understanding of essential aspects of the plant cell differentiation processes in vitro and in situ, and generate relevant information for the development of efficient somatic embryogenesis protocols for conifers. (AU)