We present here a characterization of Erythrina crista-galli L. (syn: Erythrina lamifolia Jacq.) seedlings, obtained from a plant living in the Botanical Garden of Pisa University. This plant produces seeds that, during germination, have shown two different seedling phenotypes: normal (NT, 75%) and "albino" types (AT, 25%). Albino seedlings survive only 8-9 weeks and their growth is dramatically reduced when compared with wild type seedlings. Biochemical investigations have shown that albino seedlings lack completely chlorophyll and carotenoids and also soluble sugar levels result lower when compared with normal type. We have also conducted experiments of SDS-PAGE and silver staining analysis on different protein extracts from shoots and leaves of both phenotypes evidencing strong differences in the protein pattern. To be underlined the almost total absence of putative small and large RuBisCo bands in albino seedlings. We have also determined microspectrophotometrically the DNA content of this species, considering that it was lacking in literature, by means of Feulgen method. The recorded chromosome count of the species is confirmed to be 2n=42, number characteristic of the genus Erythrina. Moreover no variation in the Feulgen absorption and in chromosome number is detectable between NT and AT seedlings. To better characterize this species and the two phenotypes, the complete nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) and the 5.8S rDNA have been also reported and compared with analogous sequences of some woody Leguminosae, present in the EMBL database. The results of this initial report lead us to conclude that albinism, in our system, has probably occurred as a result of natural mutation, and should be connected to genetic factors rather than to environmental conditions.
Characterisation of normal and “albino” phenotypes in Erythrina crista-galli
GUGLIELMINETTI, LORENZO;RUFFINI CASTIGLIONE, MONICA;
2012-01-01
Abstract
We present here a characterization of Erythrina crista-galli L. (syn: Erythrina lamifolia Jacq.) seedlings, obtained from a plant living in the Botanical Garden of Pisa University. This plant produces seeds that, during germination, have shown two different seedling phenotypes: normal (NT, 75%) and "albino" types (AT, 25%). Albino seedlings survive only 8-9 weeks and their growth is dramatically reduced when compared with wild type seedlings. Biochemical investigations have shown that albino seedlings lack completely chlorophyll and carotenoids and also soluble sugar levels result lower when compared with normal type. We have also conducted experiments of SDS-PAGE and silver staining analysis on different protein extracts from shoots and leaves of both phenotypes evidencing strong differences in the protein pattern. To be underlined the almost total absence of putative small and large RuBisCo bands in albino seedlings. We have also determined microspectrophotometrically the DNA content of this species, considering that it was lacking in literature, by means of Feulgen method. The recorded chromosome count of the species is confirmed to be 2n=42, number characteristic of the genus Erythrina. Moreover no variation in the Feulgen absorption and in chromosome number is detectable between NT and AT seedlings. To better characterize this species and the two phenotypes, the complete nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) and the 5.8S rDNA have been also reported and compared with analogous sequences of some woody Leguminosae, present in the EMBL database. The results of this initial report lead us to conclude that albinism, in our system, has probably occurred as a result of natural mutation, and should be connected to genetic factors rather than to environmental conditions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
