Abstract
Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) is one of the most commercially important conifers but its pollinosis is the most serious allergic disease in Japan. Recently, male-sterile mutants of C. japonica whose pollen is hardly released have been selected. To clarify the molecular mechanisms of male sterility in C. japonica, we have constructed a DNA microarray using clustered ESTs. This microarray was used to analyze gene expression in male strobili of the male-sterile mutant and wild type. There were about 20 ESTs exhibiting differential expression (4-fold changes) at stages before collapsed microspores were observed in the male-sterile mutant. In contrast, over 100 ESTs showed differential expression in male strobili at the stages of microspore, which were collapsed in the male-sterile mutant.
