York U. Researchers Isolate New Gene Vital to Preventing Plant Self-pollination, Inbreeding; Findings, Published in Science, Expected to Benefit Canola Production

TORONTO, November 25, 1999 -- A team of leading researchers at York University has isolated a new plant gene called ARC1, which plays an important role in preventing self-pollination in the Brassica genus of plants -- which includes canola, broccoli and cauliflower.

Biology Prof. Daphne Goring, York biology graduate student Sophia Stone, and Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited senior research associate Mary Anne Arnoldo, are among the scientists who have been looking for ways to prevent some plants in the Brassica genus from self-pollinating. Self-pollination is a problem because it can result in inbreeding, the proliferation of unhealthy plants, and lower seed production.

A gene known as the S receptor kinase (SRK) had previously been linked to preventing self-pollination, a process also known as the self-incompatibility response. The York University research team discovered that the suppression of levels of the ARC1 protein, which bind to the SRK protein in specific types of canola plants, results in a partial breakdown of self-incompatibility responsible for seed production.

"Our research provides strong evidence that ARC1 plays an essential role in the Brassica self-incompatibility response," said Goring. "This is one step toward understanding the important question of how plants are able to control the process of pollination and, as a consequence, influence fertilization and fruit and seed production."

The new finding will be featured in a report entitled "A Breakdown of Brassica Self-Incompatibility in ARC1 Antisense Transgenic Plants," which will be published in the November 26 issue of Science magazine.

-30-

For more information or to obtain a copy of the article, please contact:

Dr. Daphne Goring
Biology Department
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 40512
dgoring@yorku.ca

Sophia Stone
Biology Department
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 40511
sstone@yorku.ca

Ken Turriff
Media Relations Officer
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
kturriff@yorku.ca
YU/133/99