CHARACTERIZATION OF THE GENE ENCODING DIHYDROFLAVONOL 4-REDUCTASE IN TOMATO

A cDNA clone (DFR) encoding dihydroflavonol 4-reductase was identified from tomato hypocotyls. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence comparison s to Petumia hybrida, Antirrhinum majus and Zea mays DFR sequences con firmed that the cDNA encodes the structural DFR gene. In tomato, the D FR sequence appeared to be present as a single gene and mapped to a re gion on chromosome 2 near two loci affecting anthocyanin pigmentation, are and aw. DFR was expressed in both leaf and hypocotyl tissue. Sequ encing data from two DFR cDNA clones indicated there are alternative p olyadenylation sites on DFR.