A pollen factor linking inter- and intraspecific pollen rejection in tomato

Science. 2010 Dec 24;330(6012):1827-30. doi: 10.1126/science.1197908.

Abstract

Self-incompatibility (SI)--intraspecific pollen recognition systems that allow plants to avoid inbreeding--in the Solanaceae (the nightshade family) is controlled by a polymorphic S locus where "self" pollen is rejected on pistils with matching S alleles. In contrast, unilateral interspecific incompatibility (UI) prevents hybridization between related species, most commonly when the pollen donor is self-compatible (SC) and the recipient is SI. We observed that in Solanum, a pollen-expressed Cullin1 gene with high similarity to Petunia SI factors interacts genetically with a gene at or near the S locus to control UI. Cultivated tomato and related red- or orange-fruited species (all SC) exhibit the same loss-of-function mutation in this gene, whereas the green-fruited species (mostly SI) contain a functional allele; hence, similar biochemical mechanisms underlie the rejection of both "self" and interspecific pollen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Cullin Proteins / genetics*
  • Cullin Proteins / metabolism
  • Flowers / physiology
  • Genes, Plant*
  • Hybridization, Genetic
  • Introns
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Pollen / genetics*
  • Pollen / physiology
  • Pollination
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • RNA, Plant / metabolism
  • Ribonucleases / genetics
  • Ribonucleases / metabolism
  • Sequence Deletion
  • Solanum / genetics*
  • Solanum / physiology
  • Solanum lycopersicum / genetics*
  • Solanum lycopersicum / physiology*

Substances

  • Cullin 1
  • Cullin Proteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Plant
  • Ribonucleases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/HQ610200
  • GENBANK/HQ610201