Abstract:

WUSCHEL is plant stem cell organizer gene, and its expression determines stem cell formation and morphogenesis during plant development. We cloned its homologue gene from protocorm-like body in Rosa canina, and named it as RaWUS gene through homology comparison of amino acid sequences alignment and phylogenetic analysis. A chemical inducible expression vector was constructed under XVE system. Under the system, overexpression of RaWUS gene was able to induce adventitious shoots from root tips of transgenic tobacco, and microobservation results showed that spherical meristem stem cell mass was produced in cortex in the root. Our research result suggests overexpression of RaWUS gene can transform parenchymatous cell into meristematic stem cell and induce shoot stem cell activity and development plasticity in the root.

Key words: Rosa canina, protocorm-like body, RaWUS gene, XVE system, stem cell