Abstract:

With the total RNA from leaves of Malus crabapple ‘Royalty’ as the template,a full cDNA of CHI(chalcone isomerase) gene (660 bp) was cloned by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid-amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The gene was named McCHI, encoding a protein of 219 amino acids. The corresponding DNA sequence is 1 180 bp,containing 3 introns and 4 exons,and has a typical structure of CHI gene. The expression of McCHI and the content of anthocyanin were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and spectrophotometer respectively in the mature and young leaves of M.‘Flame’ (green young and mature leaf), M.‘Radiant’ (red young leaf and green mature leaf), M.‘Prairifire’ (red young leaf and green mature leaf), M.‘Royalty’ (purple young and mature leaf). The results showed that McCHI was expressed in both mature leaves and young leaves of the above four cultivars,but the expression levels was greatly different at different leaf ages and between cultivars.

Key words: Malus crabapples, leaf, McCHI, gene expression, anthocyanin content