Genetic and molecular characterization of an Adh-1 null mutant in tomato

Mol Gen Genet. 1991 Apr;226(1-2):120-8. doi: 10.1007/BF00273595.

Abstract

Treatment of tomato seeds with ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) followed by allyl alcohol selection of M2 seeds has led to the identification of one plant (B15-1) heterozygous for an alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) null mutation. Genetic analysis and expression studies indicated that the mutation corresponded to the structural gene of the Adh-1 locus on chromosome 4. Homozygous Adh-1 null mutants lacked ADH-1 activity in both pollen and seeds. Using an antiserum directed against ADH from Arabidopsis thaliana, which cross-reacts with ADH-1 and ADH-2 proteins from tomato, no ADH-1 protein was detected in seeds of the null mutant. Northern blot analysis showed that Adh-1 mRNA was synthesized at wild-type levels in immature seeds of the null mutant, but dropped to 25% in mature seeds. Expression of the Adh-2 gene on chromosome 6 was unaffected. The potential use of the Adh-1 null mutant in selecting rare transposon insertion mutations in a cross with "mutable" Adh-1+ tomato lines is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Dehydrogenase / genetics*
  • Alcohol Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Alleles
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Cross Reactions
  • Electrophoresis, Starch Gel
  • Ethyl Methanesulfonate / pharmacology
  • Genes, Plant
  • Heterozygote
  • Mutation*
  • Plants / genetics*
  • Plants / immunology

Substances

  • Ethyl Methanesulfonate
  • Alcohol Dehydrogenase