[Regulation to curd morphogenesis and genetics of exogenous BoCAL gene in cauliflower]

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) and cabbage (B. oleracea var capitata L.) are two varieties of species B. oleracea. Cauliflower BobCAL gene losses the original function due to its terminated mutation while cabbage BoCAL gene has the complete function. We obtained cauliflower plants transgenic for BoCAL gene using Arobacterium-mediated transformation. Genetic analysis of T2 generation indicated that all cauliflower plants transgenic for BoCAL failed to form curd and produced the green, loosed inflorescences composed of flower buds instead, demonstrating that cauliflower BobCAL was complemented by cabbage BoCAL, and thus transgenic cauliflower lost the ability to form curd. Selfing of these transgenic plants gave rise to the similar inflorescence phenotype of T3 plants except 15 days delay of inflorescence appearance compared with the plants of T1 generation. When transgenic cauliflower was crossed with wild-type cauliflower, the progenies formed the curd with a few of flower buds, and they delayed inflorescence onset till 135 days after sowing.