EVALUATION OF THE FUNCTION AND EXPRESSION PATTERN OF MEDICAGO TRUNCATULA AUXIN RESPONSЕ FACTOR B3 AFTER HETEROLOGOUS EXPRESSION IN ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA

G. Zehirov, M. Revalska, A. Iantcheva, V. Vassileva

Abstract: The phytohormone auxin plays a vital role in almost every aspect of plant growth and development. Expression of auxinresponsive genes is controlled by a family of Auxin Response Factor (ARF) transcription factor family. This study examined the function and expression pattern of a gene encoding Auxin Response Factor B3 from Medicago truncatula (МtARF-B3) after its heterologous expression in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Stable transgenic plants with ARF-B3 overexpression, downregulation and transcriptional reporters were constructed. Transcriptional and histochemical assays revealed a stable MtARF-B3 expression in various stages of somatic embryogenesis and during the postembryonic development of A. thaliana. Morphological analysis and morphometric measurements confirmed the important role of MtARF-B3 in general plant growth and development, root growth and seed production.

Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; gene expression; Medicago truncatula Auxin Response Factor B3 (MtARF-B3); plant development; plant growth

Date published: 2017-08-28