Two ldh genes from tomato and their expression in different organs, during fruit ripening and in response to stress

Two different ldh genes have been isolated from a tomato genomic library and sequenced. Both contain a single intron and correspond to cDNA clones LeLdh1 and LeLdh2 isolated from a library constructed from hypoxically induced tomato roots. Southern blots indicate that the two genes comprise the entire ldh gene family in tomato. Both genes are expressed at low levels in leaves, fruit and roots. Their transcript levels do not change during fruit ripening. Ldh1 but not ldh2 is inducible by oxygen deficit in both roots and fruit.