Ma, C., Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
Meir, S., Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel
Xiao, L., Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
Tong, J., Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
Liu, Q., Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
Reid, M.S., Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
Jiang, C.-Z., Crops Pathology and Genetic Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Davis, CA, United States
Meir, S., Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel
Xiao, L., Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
Tong, J., Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
Liu, Q., Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
Reid, M.S., Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
Jiang, C.-Z., Crops Pathology and Genetic Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Davis, CA, United States
A gene encoding a KNOTTED1-LIKE HOMEOBOX PROTEIN1 (KD1) is highly expressed in both leaf and flower abscission zones. Reducing the abundance of transcripts of this gene in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) by both virus-induced gene silencing and stable transformation with a silencing construct driven by an abscission-specific promoter resulted in a striking retardation of pedicel and petiole abscission. In contrast, Petroselinum, a semidominant KD1 mutant, showed accelerated pedicel and petiole abscission. Complementary DNA microarray and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that regulation of abscission by KD1 was associated with changed abundance of genes related to auxin transporters and signaling components. Measurement of auxin content and activity of a DR5::β-glucuronidase auxin reporter assay showed that changes in KD1 expression modulated the auxin concentration and response gradient in the abscission zone. © 2015 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.
