Extension of flower longevity in transgenic torenia plants incorporating ACC oxidase transgene

We demonstrated extension of flower longevity in torenia (Torenia fournieri Lind.) by introducing a fragment of the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase gene in sense or antisense orientation. Torenia was transformed by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Among primary transformants, 8 sense-gene-introduced plants (average flower longevity 2.7-7.1 days) and 3 antisense-gene-introduced plants (Dom 2.5-2.7 days) showed significantly greater longevity than did wild-type plants (2.0 days). Analysis of offspring suggested that the introduced gene had been inherited, and that the extended flower longevity was linked to the existence of the gene. Northern blot analysis and measurement of ethylene production demonstrated a reduction in mRNA level and endogenous ethylene production in plants with improved flower longevity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.