Abstract
Cryptomeria japonica is one of the most important Japanese conifer species. We consider genetic modification (GM) is a powerful tool for breeding. But the transfer of foreign genes from GM plants to related plant species by pollen has been cited as an environmental concern. For the purpose of creating male sterile GM Cryptomeria japonica, we are trying to identify genes related to male flower formation.
To identify genes preferentially expressed during male strobilus development, we constructed 4 male strobili subtracted libraries on the basis of PCR-selected subtraction using a pool of shoot tissues as the driver and male strobili as tester. We isolated some clones from 25th November male strobili subtracted library. Sequence analysis showed that one of the clones we isolated was similar to the sunflower anther specific cell wall protein, SF18. Now we are trying to isolate male strobilus specific genes from other developmental stages.
