Characterization of the bark storage protein gene () family in the perennial woody plant and the function of in .

BACKGROUND

Bark storage protein (BSP) plays an important role in seasonal nitrogen cycling in perennial deciduous trees. However, there is no report on the function of BSP in the perennial woody oil plant .

METHODS

In this study, we identified six members of gene family in genome. The patterns, seasonal changes, and responses to nitrogen treatment in gene expression of s were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Overexpression of in transgenic was driven by a constitutive cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) RNA promoter.

RESULTS

members were found to be expressed in various tissues, except seeds. The seasonal changes in the total protein concentration and expression in the stems of were positively correlated, as both increased in autumn and winter and decreased in spring and summer. In addition, the expression in seedlings treated with different concentrations of an NHNO solution was positively correlated with the NHNO concentration and application duration. Furthermore, overexpression in resulted in a phenotype of enlarged rosette leaves, flowers, and seeds, and significantly increased the seed weight and yield in transgenic plants.