A nonsymbiotic hemoglobin gene is expressed during somatic embryogenesis in Cichorium

After differential screening of a cDNA library corresponding to genes expre ssed during the early stages of somatic embryogenesis in leaf tissue from t he Cichorium hybrid '474' (C. intybus L., var, sativum x C. endivia L., var , latifolia) a nonsymbiotic hemoglobin cDNA was obtained. Studies of the ex pression of the gene corresponding to this clone by Northern blot analysis suggest that in Cichorium a nonsymbiotic hemoglobin gene is specifically ex pressed under somatic embryogenesis-inducing conditions, and that its expre ssion is not related to stress caused by wounding or tissue culture conditi ons. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.