ISSN:
1365-3040
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
The cis-unsaturated molecular species of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) in chloroplasts have been implicated in the chilling sensitivity of plants. Homozygous lines of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) that overexpressed the cDNA for glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, a key enzyme in the determination of the extent of cis-unsaturation of PG, were established from a chilling-sensitive squash (Cucurbita moschata). In transgenic plants, the proportion of saturated plus trans-monounsaturated molecular species of PG increased from 24 to 65%. However, this change did not affect the architecture of the chloroplasts. Chilling stress decreased the growth and biomass production of young seedlings of transgenic plants more severely than those of wild-type plants, and this observation suggests that the changes in the proportion of cis-unsaturated PG affected not only leaves but also developing plants. Chilling stress also damaged inflorescences. In particular, the abscission of flower buds and inflorescence meristems from transgenic plants occurred more frequently than that from wild-type plants. Thus, it is likely that decreases in the proportion of cis-unsaturated PG enhanced the sensitivity to chilling of reproductive organs.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.0016-8025.2003.01131.x
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