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Ectopic expression of Kxhkn5 in the viviparous species Kalanchoe × Houghtonii induces a novel pattern of epiphyll development

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Abstract

KxhKN5 (class 1 KNOX gene) was cloned from Kalanchoe × houghtonii with strong tendency to form epiphylls on leaves. KxhKN5 appear to be homologue of BP of A. thaliana on the basis of phylogeny, expression and phenotype analysis. Beside the modification of several plant and leaf traits, the appearance of epiphylls was drastically reduced by both the silencing and the over-expression of KxhKN5 in most of the generated clones. In silenced clones, epiphyll production followed the morphogenetic pathway of the WT plants: somatic embryos outbreak in the centre of each leaf-pedestal, grown in the notch between leaf indentations and were supported by a suspensor. The connection between the epiphyll and the mother plant did not include any vasculature and as a result, the epiphylls dropped easily from the mother plant. The most represented category of over expressor clones, disclosed a novel pattern of epiphyll development: the leaf-pedestals were absent and single bud outbreaks in each leaf notch. Buds developed into shoots which remained attached to the maternal plant by a strong vascular connection. The leaves supporting shoots, produced a thickened midrib and veins, and their lamina ceased expanding. Finally, the leaf/shoot structure resembles a lateral branch. The ectopic expression of KxhKN5 in K. × houghtonii induces a process comparable to the alternation of leaf and shoot formation in other species and support the idea, that it is the variation in shared molecular and developmental processes which produces the growth of specific structures.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Serena Varotto (University of Padova) for protocol and help with in situ hybridization technique. This work was founded by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MiPAAF) in the framework of the project “Agronanotech”.

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  1. Agricultural Research Council, Research Unit for Floriculture and Ornamental Species (CRA-FSO), Corso Inglesi 508, 18038, Sanremo, IM, Italy

    Marina Laura, Cristina Borghi, Cristina Regis, Arianna Cassetti & Andrea Allavena

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  1. Marina Laura
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  2. Cristina Borghi
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  3. Cristina Regis
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  4. Arianna Cassetti
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Correspondence to Andrea Allavena.

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Laura, M., Borghi, C., Regis, C. et al. Ectopic expression of Kxhkn5 in the viviparous species Kalanchoe × Houghtonii induces a novel pattern of epiphyll development. Transgenic Res 22, 59–74 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-012-9628-9

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