Expression Analysis of Starch Synthesis-related Genes Induced by Abscisic Acid and Sucrose in Potato Tubers

PurposeTo define the effective abscisic acid (ABA) and sucrose treatments that could induce the expression of starch synthesis-related genes in potato tubers.

MethodsYoung tubers were subjected to ABA, sucrose, and ABA+sucrose treatments using different solutions and conditions, and the expression levels of three genes including granule-bound starch synthase Ⅰ (GBSS Ⅰ), starch branching enzyme Ⅲ (SBE3) and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase large subunit 3 (APL3) were examined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). After defining the effective treatment, the expression levels of other nine starch synthesis-related genes were examined.

ResultsRT-qPCR result showed that when the treatment solutions contained CaCl₂, sodium succinate, chloramphenicol and other agents, and young tubers were inoculated at 28 ℃ in the dark for 36 hours, the expression levels of GBSS Ⅰ and APL3 were obviously induced under ABA or sucrose treatments compared with their expression for the control. Further examination of the expression of nine starch synthesis-related genes found that most of them were positively responsive to the treatments.

ConclusionEffective ABA and sucrose treatments that induce the expression of starch synthesis-related genes are defined. The results can lay a foundation for exploring the transcriptional regulation mechanism of starch synthesis in potato tuber.