Isolation of mRNA species related to the rooting induction in almond and apple through the differential display technique

Differential display of mRNA has been recently developed as a tool to detect and characterize changes in gene expression. We applied this technique to fruit trees plantlets induced to root in vitro, in order to isolate and study genes involved in root induction. A reproducible pattern of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products was obtained, both in almond and apple, in vertical polyacrylamide gels stained with ethidium bromide. Differences in PCR fingerprinting were detected in mRNAs of basal part of either auxin induced or non induced microcuttings. Thus, we suggest that this technique can be used in woody species to detect changes among mRNA populations during root induction.