CaMADS1, a MADS box gene expressed in the carpel of hazelnut

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is a species of economic interest that shows a peculiar floral biology. Unlike most of the angiosperms, which produce o vules during floral development such that they are ready for pollen at anth esis, hazelnut ovary development is delayed and triggered by compatible pol lination. Tn order to elucidate the mechanisms regulating this unusual proc ess and the role of the MADS box genes in ovary development, a cDNA library from pollinated styles of hazelnut was screened with a mixture of MADS box genes from different plant species. CaMADS1 (Corylus avellana MADS box), a floral-specific MADS box gene, was isolated, and characterized as belongin g to the sub-family of the AGAMOUS genes. Northern blot, RT-PCR analyses an d in situ hybridization experiments show a precise correlation between ovar y development and CaMADS1 expression, indicating a role of this MADS box ge ne in the processes of floral organogenesis.