SURVEY OF THE EFFECT OF IRRIGATION PERIODS ON PDS AND BCH GENES EXPRESSION WITH RT-PCR IN SAFFRON

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the most valuable and indigenous plant in Iran. But knowledge on the molecular investigations of saffron is still limited. The importance of this plant is due to red stigmas with color, flavor and medicinal properties. Saffron stigmas contain a lot of carotenoids such as Crocetin and Crocin. Some genes such as bch and pds have basic roles in carotenoid production. This study was carried out to determine the effect of four irrigation treatments on expression of these genes. A semi quantitative RT-PCR assay has been developed for rapid and semi-quantitative detection of mRNA transcripts of these genes. Differences in expression of these genes were calculated by comparative analysis with internal standard (18s rRNA). RT-PCR with oligodT and specific primers resulted in amplification of two bands 108 bp and 148 bp for bch and pds genes, respectively. The results showed that the expression of bch and pds genes did not show significant difference in treatments I, II (irrigated twice in different time) and IV (not irrigated). In treatment III (once irrigation) the expression of these genes decreased.