REGULATED ETHYLENE SENSITIVITY TO CONTROL FLOWER LONGEVITY IN A PLANT

摘要

Provided is the tissue specific manipulation of the EIN2 and/or EIN3ethylene~signaling genes, permitting the controlled regulation of flowerand/or leaf abscission in a commercially useful plant, since flower and leafabscission are positively regulated by the plant hormone ethylene. Inparticular, controlled expression of the EIN2 gene, permits reduction of early-season flower abscission. The altered expression of ethylene signaling gene(s)enhances the commercial value of the plant, thereby producing a moreproductive and/or more efficiently harvested crop. Further provided are newinsights into the mechanisms involved in the ethylene signaling pathway.