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SUMMARY:Molecular analysis of potato tuber dormancy - Luke Browning
DTSTART:20131115T130000Z
DTEND:20131115T132500Z
UID:TALK48219@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Megan Cooper
DESCRIPTION:Molecular analysis of potato tuber dormancy:\nPotato tuber dor
 mancy is a physiological adaptation to intermittent periods of environment
 al limitations. The survival mechanism is a form of endodormancy and is re
 gulated by the five major plant growth regulators. Cytokinins play a centr
 al role in both the onset of tuber initiation and apical bud growth\, but 
 the internal mechanisms of these processes are only beginning to be unders
 tood. \nIt is currently necessary to store tubers post-harvest at cold tem
 peratures to impose ecodormancy\; a way of prolonging the dormant state fo
 r commercial effectiveness. Cultivated potato varieties have a well charac
 terized range of dormancy ratings but as of yet there are no predictive me
 thods to estimate the length of dormancy for particular genotypes with rea
 sonable accuracy. A recent discovery\, the StCKP1 gene\, has given new ins
 ights into the mechanisms of the dormancy cycle. The expression of StCKP1 
 has been shown to control the duration of dormancy: lowering expression sh
 ortens\, and over-expression is sufficient to extend dormancy. The StCKP1 
 protein binds cytokinin\, the hormone responsible for reactivating tuber b
 uds. StCKP1 protein accumulates just before the onset of dormancy\, likely
  sequestering cytokinin and so locking the apex of the stolon and all its 
 buds in the dormant state. The project will take this knowledge further by
  establishing the absolute relationship between StCKP1 protein levels\, an
 d its expression\, with different stages of tuber dormancy and potato geno
 types. With this we aim to provide the industry with methods of measuring 
 the duration of dormancy for tubers in storage or during the screening of 
 novel potato lines.    \n
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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