An anther-specific chalcone synthase-like gene D5 related to rice pollen development

It was shown in a previous analysis that D5 gene from rice (Oryza saliva L. ) was an anther-specific gene encoding a chalcone synthase-related protein. In this study, D5 gene was found specifically expressed in tapetum cells a s well as in the peripheral cells of the vascular bundle of rice anthers by RNA in situ hybridization. In order to study its function, D5 was transfor med into rice in both sense and antisense directions driven by a rice Actin I promoter. It has been observed that the pollen grains from the antisense D5 transgenic rice plants are abnormal, indicating that D5 plays a critica l role in rice pollen development.