Cloning and Expression Analysis of Two ERF Genes in Pericarp of Russet Mutant of ‘Dangshansuli’ Pear

Abstract:

The aim was to understand the function of ethylene responsive factor (ERF) in Pyrus bretschneideri. Two ERF genes were cloned from pericarp of ‘Dangshansuli’ and its russet mutant ‘Xiusu’ by using 3' RACE and PCR monthods. Both of genes had typical conserved domain of AP2/ERF, named as PbERF2 and PbERF4, with GenBank accession No. of KJ623716 and KJ623718, respectively. The phylogenetic tree showed that PbERF2 had closed correlation with ERF1 in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) and PbERF4 was closed to ERF1 in cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR indicated that expressions of PbERF2 and PbERF4 in pericarps were higher than those in sarcocarps, and both hardly expressed in leaves. Real-time RT-PCR showed that expressions of PbERF2 and PbERF4 in pericarps of ‘Xiusu’ was significant higher than those in ‘Dangshansuli’, and expression trend of them was upgrade at first and then descend. These would provide theory foundation for further study on mechanism of ERF family genes in pear.