ROMANIAN BIOTECHNOLOGICAL LETTERS, cilt.18, sa.1, ss.8013-8025, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
Ethylene responsive AP2/EREBP type transcription factors (TF) play major roles such as growth, development, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. Forward and reverse AP2/EREBP type TF-specific primers were designed, sequenced, and linkage mapped in a population of 164 F-1 individuals derived between 'Clementine' mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco 'Clementine') and 'Orlando' tangelo' (C. paradisi Macf. 'Duncan' x C. reticulata Blanco 'Dancy'). A total of 26 pairs of primers were designed for PCR reactions using Primique software available in TF database (DATFAP) based on default parameters using available dicot's AP2/EREBP sequences. These primers included 17 to 35 bases, and produced a total of 21 polymorphic markers. Bright 13 markers were excised, sequenced, deposited in the NCBI web site, and BLAST-analyzed for homology. Of the 21 markers, 13 were linkage mapped in a previous citrus map. Seven and five markers were mapped in 'Clementine' and 'Orlando' map, respectively. Based on Maximum Parsimony algorithm nested in MEGA 4 evolutionary genetic analysis software, the 13 TF sequences obtained in this study were found to be closely related to known TFs of Arabidopsis thaliana. Few of TF markers were found to be closely linked in existing linkage map of citrus, suggesting possible ancestral origin. These AP2/EREBP primers helped identification of citrus AP2/EREBP type transcription factor genes and can be used in other dicots such as tomato and cotton may have potential in understanding evolutionary relationships, establishing linkage map, and estimating diversity among other dicots since these TFs may reflect adaptability of plants.