Introducing an Antisense Gene for a Cell-Wall-Bound Acid Invertase to Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Plants Reduces Carbohydrate Content in Leaves and Fertility

抄録

Partial Wiv-1 cDNA for a cell-wall-bound acid invertase isolated from wounded leaves of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) was introduced into tomato plants in an antisense orientation. The enzyme activity was markedly decreased in wounded leaves of 3 of 9 transformants. The soluble sugars and starch contents in the source leaves of these 3 transformants were reduced compared with control plants. These results suggest that the cell-wall-bound acid invertase encoded by Wiv-1 regulates the carbohydrate content in source leaves of tomato. Most of the transformants showed low fertility. It is possible that the enzyme encoded by Wiv-1 participates also in sink metabolism in tomato flowers.