Molecular Basis of Unique Branching Phenotypes in Salvia splendens and the Role of PSY

The branching system of higher plants plays a very important role in plant morphogenesis, and the number branches can directly affect crop yield ornamental value plants. It is complicated development process involving complex molecular mechanisms. ‘Cailinghong’ variety Salvia splendens characterized by its great ability with to grow into spherical form naturally, without pinching. To gain insight events during S. splendens, suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) technology was used screen differentially expressed genes between erect type (strain 35) (‘Cailinghong’). In total, 96 116 unigenes were annotated. Four eight up-regulated strain 35, respectively, associated hormone anabolism signal transduction, suggesting that they participate process. One these genes, phytoene synthase (PSY), precursor new group strigolactones. Using PSY fragment (192 bp) as template, cDNA sequence cloned named SsPSY. A relative expression analysis transgenic test results indicated SsPSY an lateral branch ‘Cailinghong’. These provide mechanisms underlying splendens.