Unraveling molecular processes involved in adventive polyembryony towards genetic engineering for fixation of heterosis
Objectives
1. Identification and characterization of nucellar tissue-specific genes and promoters of Arabidopsis.
2. Confirmatory survey of citrus to identify plants showing mono- or polyembryony.
3. Survey of guggul to identify plants reproducing through apomictic or sexual pathways.
4. Identification of molecular markers associated with polyembryony in citrus and guggul.
5. Identification and cloning of genes specifically expressed during initiation and development of asexual embryos/seeds in citrus and guggul.
6. Induction of polyembryony by nucellar specific expression of candidate genes.
The project aims at identification of genes and promoters involved in adventive embryony with emphasis on the following:
Ø Identification of monoembryonic genotypes in citrus.
Ø Identification of sexual types in guggul.
Ø Identification of promoters specifically expressed in the nucellus.
Ø Identification of genes specifically expressed during adventive polyembryonic development in citrus and guggul.
Ø Engineering polyembryony through induction of adventitious embryos from nucellar cells in vivo.
