Abstract
Previously we have reported that white poplar ( Populus alba L.) endo-1,4-β-glucanase family9 (cellulase) genes, PopCel1 and PopCel2 are expressed complementarily in shoot, leaf and root tissues during their developmental stages. On the other hand, analyses of PopCel1 and PopCel2 promoter-GUS transgenic poplar and Arabidopsis plants revealed that they are co-expressed in guard cells. Arabidopsis transgenic plants were germinated and grown under dark condition for five days and then transferred to light condition to induce formation of guard cells, and their promoter activities were observed during induction and development of guard cells under light condition. PopCel1 and PopCel2 promoter activities emerged after guard mother cells were divided into a pair of guard cells and maintained during their development. Thus PopCel1 and PopCel2 are suggested to be involved in cell expansion during the development of the guard cells in poplar and Arabidopsis.
