Differential regulation of SERK, LEC1-Like and Pathogenesis-Related genes during indirect secondary somatic embryogenesis in grapevine

A culture model was developed in Vitis vinifera L., cultivar ‘Chardonnay’ for studying SE (Somatic Embryogenesis). The auxin 2,4-D (2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) was used to induce indirect secondary embryogenesis at a high rate, starting from embryos derived from embryogenic cultures previously obtained. Cotyledonary embryos were shown to be more responsive to SE induction than embryos at the torpedo-stage and were used for molecular analyses. The expression of SERK (Somatic Embryogenesis Receptor Kinase), L1L (Leafy Cotyledon1 Like) and a set of PR (Pathogenesis-Related) genes was monitored during the whole SE process. VvSERK1, VvSERK2 and VvL1L were down-regulated by the 2,4-D treatment but expressed in embryonic tissues. On the contrary, VvPR1, VvPR8, VvPR10.1 and VvPR10.3 were strongly up-regulated by the 2,4-D treatment, and their transcripts were not or only weakly detected in clusters of secondary embryos. VvSERK3, VvPR3 and VvPR10.2 were more stably expressed in all tissues examined. The discussion deals with the putative role of the different genes in grapevine SE.