Expression and functional analysis of apple MdMADS13 on flower and fruit formation

Abstract

Apple MdMADS13 has a transcription factor with MADS domain. Moreover, it is expressed specifically at petals and carpels. The product forms a dimer with MdPISTILLATA (MdPI) protein as a class B gene for floral organ formation. Reportedly, in parthenocarpic cultivars of apple (Spencer Seedless, Wellington Bloomless, Wickson and Noblow) the MdPI function is lost by genome insertion of retrotransposon, which cultivars show a homeotic mutation of floral organs, petals to sepals and stamens to carpels. Apple fruit is pome from receptacle tissue, and MdSEPALLATA (MdMADS8/9) and AGAMOUS homologues MdMADS15/22 involved in the fruit development, the transgenic apple suppressed these gene showed poor fruit development and abnormal flower formation. This article describes that the MdMADS13 retained expression after blossom and small fruits of parthenocarpic cultivars. Yeast two-hybrid experiment showed specific binding between MdPI and MdMADS13 proteins. Furthermore, transgenic Arabidopsis with 35S::MdMADS13 have malformed stamens and carpels. These results suggest strongly that MdMADS13 is related to flower organ formation as a class B gene with MdPI.