A nonsymbiotic hemoglobin gene is expressed during somatic embryogenesis in Cichorium

After differential screening of a cDNA library corresponding to genes expressed during the early stages of somatic embryogenesis in leaf tissue from the Cichorium hybrid '474' (C. intybus L., var. sativumxC. endivia L., var. latifolia) a nonsymbiotic hemoglobin cDNA was obtained. Studies of the expression of the gene corresponding to this clone by Northern blot analysis suggest that in Cichorium a nonsymbiotic hemoglobin gene is specifically expressed under somatic embryogenesis-inducing conditions, and that its expression is not related to stress caused by wounding or tissue culture conditions.