The analysis of differential gene expression in early somatic embryogenesis on Lycium barbarum

Direct exposure of calluses of Lycium barbarum L. to an auxin-free medium can induce somatic embryogenesis. Somatic embryogenesis of Lycium barbarum L. is controlled artificially by regulating 2,4-D concentration. The total RNA that was isolated from calluses, embryonic calluses and early somatic embryos was used for analyzing differential genes expression. We obtained three cDNAs from early somatic embryogenesis which were not found in calluses. The results indicate that these cDNAs were early embryogenesis-specific cDNAs and this gene expression was induced in cultured calluses after a transfer to an auxin- free medium. A cDNA library was constructed using poly(A)⁺-RNA derived from early somatic embryos of Lycium barbarism L. Two full-length cDNAs were isolated from the library by differential screening. Northern blot hybridization analysis indicated that the expression of the full-length cDNA only existed in embryogenic calluses and early somatic embryos of Lycium barbarum L. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.