Thesis (PhD (Plant Biotechnology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Virus Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) was optimized to allow for the study of starch
metabolism. The plastidial inorganic pyrophosphatase gene, for which a mutant has
never been identified, was studied using VIGS and it was found to have a broad role
in this subcellular compartment. The accumulation of inorganic pyrophosphate
limited the production of starch, carotenoids, chlorophyll, and increased the plants
susceptibility to drought stress. These effects highlight the importance of this enzyme
in maintaining a low intraplastidial concentration of PPi providing an environment
which facilitates these anabolic processes. Several genes involved in starch
synthesis and degradation were also targeted with the aim of establishing a system
of multiple gene silencing for the study of metabolic pathways. One, two and three
genes were successfully silenced using this system which was validated based on
previously published data. Interestingly, simultaneous silencing of the two isoforms
of disproportionating enzyme led to a novel phenotype as a large reduction in starch
instead of the expected increase was observed. / No Afrikaans abstract available
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4024 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | George, Gavin M. (Gavin Mager) |
| Contributors | Lloyd, J. R., Kossmann, J. M., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Genetics. Institute for Plant Biotechnology (IPB) |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 124 p. : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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