Cloning and characterization of sweetpotato MADS-box gene (IbAGL17) isolated from tuberous root

Abstract

A new MADS-box gene, IbAGL17, was isolated from the tuberous root of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. cv. Kokei 14). IbAGL17 was expressed in vegetative tissues, especially root tissues; thickened pigmented root and tuberous root. On sequence alignment, IbAGL17 fell into the AGL17 subfamily composed of AGL16, AGL17, ANR1, NMHC5 and DEFH125, which share high sequence similarity. A transcript of IbAGL17 in root and petiole was found in the vascular tissues in tissue printing. These results suggest that expression pattern of IbAGL17 may lead to a higher proliferation potential of vegetative tissues and root development in sweetpotato. Copyright © 2005 The Japanese Society for Plant Cell and Molecular Biology.