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Strawberry On-line Resources, Techniques and the Center for Analysis of Expression
Resources for the Molecular-Genetic Analyses of Cultivated Strawberry
Despite its value as a crop plant, surprisingly little is known about the genetic mechanisms that affect agriculturally-relevant traits of strawberry. The goal of Project ShORTCAkE is to generate research products that will help rectify this discrepancy. This includes contributing gene sequence information to public databases and development of tools to speed gene discovery, validate gene function and most of all stimulate collaboration among researchers. The goal is to speed research to meet the growing challenges posed to the strawberry-production industry. The Project ShORTCAkE website is intended to provide a portal to new sequence information, clones and other products generated by this effort.
We have approached questions of gene function in strawberry in in several ways:
1. Development of cDNA libraries. The laboratory maintains four cDNA libraries from Fragaria x ananassa. The first is a high-titer library in phage derived from whole plant tissues 24 h after treatment with salicylate. The next libraries are in Gateway vectors and have been developed with size selection to obtain the largest transcripts. These include three separate normalized libraries representing 12 stages of fruit ripening, developing flowers and roots.
2. Sequencing. Funds have been obtained from the North American Strawberry Growers and the Florida Strawberry Research and Education Foundation to begin sequencing ESTs from these libraries. Sequences are deposited to public databases in a timely manner, and clones are available to the public upon request. If you'd like to share the glory and sequence some clones, please contact us!
3. High-throughput transformation. Our patent-pending "LF9" line allows us to move from construct to transgenic plant in approximately 60 days. Many plants may be generated from a single explant.
4. Gene mapping in the diploid and octoploid species. Collaboration with Dr. Tom Davis uses a novel complex marker system to dissect genetic linkage relationships in the complex octoploid background. Studies with Dr. Dan Sargent have allowed assignment of specific gene sequences to the rapidly growing diploid strawberry linkage map.
5. Much more! We are engaged in many worldwide collaborations and internal studies of gene function. In 2006 we will publish findings from strawberry gene function in vivo, using transgenic strawberry and the model system of Arabidopsis. Many processes of agricultural interest are being studied.
ShORTCAkE* is maintained by the laboratory of Kevin M. Folta at the University of Florida. Access the main laboratory page here.
*Special thanks to the DCA (Department of Clever Acronyms)
02/18/2006 02:31:34 PM
Horticultural Sciences Department
Plant Molecular Cellular and Biology Program
Genome Database for Rosaceae
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