Function Of CMe-ERF1 And CMe-ERF2 Genes In Melon

ERF (ethylene-responsive factor) transcription factor is a huge family of tran-scription factors in plants, it is involved in plant growth and development throughout the life cycle and a variety of biological processes. In recent years, ERF gene was cloned in many plants, but was not reflected in functional analysis. In this experiment, the over expression vector pPZP221 (35S-ERF1-NOS), pPZP221 (35S-ERF2-NOS) and RNAi expression vector pART27-ERF1, pART27-ERF2 were constructed from melon. Then we injected these into the melon flesh by agrobacterium mediated, and did characterization analysis. The injection site emerged yellow phenotype by over ex-pression vector pPZP221 (35S-ERF1-NOS) and pPZP221 (35S-ERF2-NOS), and the injection site delayed changing into yellow color after injection of RNAi vectors pART27-ERF1 and pART27-ERF2. The results of real time PCR showed that CAD (Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase) gene expression are incresed, PG (Polygalac-turonase) gene expression are unchanged, and others are decresed in pulp tissue which was injected over expression vector of CMe-ERF1 gene; However, in addition to ACS (ACC synthase) gene, expression of other genes are increased in the injection site of RNAi vectors. In the tissue of transient over expression CMe-ERF2 gene, ACS, AAT (Alcohol Acyltransferases), PG gene expression are incresed, ACO (ACC oxi-dase), CAD gene expression are unchanged, others are decresed; However, in addi-tion to PG and CAD gene, other genes expression are decreased in the injection site of transformed by RNAi vectors. The research suggests that CMe-ERFl and CMe-ERF2 gene can promote fruit ripening.