Abstract
To investigate the flowering mechanism of apple, the expression of AFL1 and 2 genes, which are orthologues of the LEAFY gene from Arabidopsis, are analyzed. The respective 3' noncoding region from each AFL gene was used as a specific probe on in situ hybridization (ISH). The ISH of 10 μm thick sections of floral meristems with AFL1 or 2 probe in 2005 summer to 2006 summer showed the staining of tunica and leaf primodia, respectively. There were no differences between each stained tissues with the probes, even in developing inflorescences. The apple cultivars have different period for each inflorescence development. The AFL1 and AFL2 ISH staining also showed common tissues in spite of morphological changes. These results suggested that both AFL1 and AFL2 played important role in the flowering of apple tree.
