Molecular Characterization of a Tomato Endo- -1,4-Glucanase Gene Expressed in Mature Pistils, Abscission Zones and Fruit

Abstract

A cDNA (TAC1) and genomic clone (cel5) encoding an endo-beta-1,4-glucanase (EGase) were identified from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. Rutgers). The cel5 gene is expressed in pistils, flower pedicel and leaf abscission zones, and ripening fruit. The genomic sequence includes a 22 bp 5' upstream sequence that is conserved in a closely related peach EGase gene, ppEG1.