Recommended Citation
January 1, 2019.
Abstract
We have identified an albino mutant in the plant Brassica rapa. This recessive mutation could provide insights into the photosynthetic pathways of all plants. Previously the mutation was mapped to chromosome 10 of Brassica rapa. To narrow down the chromosomal region containing the albino mutation, we grew a segregating population of plants. DNA was extracted from albino and wildtype (green) plants and genotyped using PCR markers on chromosome 10. The genotype detected using the INDEL2 marker perfectly predicted whether a plant was albino or WT. This indicates that the INDEL2 marker is tightly linked to the albino mutation. INDEL2 is near the gene PDX2 and we detected a single nucleotide change near the PDX2 gene that is only found in albino plants. It is possible that this mutation affects the expression of PDX2 and is the cause of the albino phenotype. PDX2 is involved in vitamin B6 synthesis and it is unclear how altering vitamin metabolism could affect photosynthesis.
Disciplines
Genetics | Molecular Genetics | Plant Biology
Mentor
Dr. Edward Himeblau
Lab site
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly SLO)
Funding Acknowledgement
"The 2019 STEM Teacher and Researcher Program and this project have been made possible through support from Chevron ([http://www.chevron.com)/]www.chevron.com), the National Science Foundation through the Robert Noyce Program under Grant #1836335 and 1340110, the California State University Office of the Chancellor, and California Polytechnic State University in partnership with Cal Poly and [Any other organizations pertinent to your project]. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funders.”
Included in
Genetics Commons, Molecular Genetics Commons, Plant Biology Commons
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/583