Detecting the Expression of a Flower Development MADS-box Gene in Rice

s:A new MADS box gene, FDRMADS 5 was cloned from rice ( Oryza sativa L.) by RT PCR using degenerate primer designed based on the MADS box conserved region. This gene has 851 bp and encoded 160 amino acids, which indicates its structure of typical plant MADS box gene. The Southern blot analysis showed that the FDRMADS 5 was a single copy gene in rice. The Northern blot analysis detected that the FDRMADS 5 expressed not only in flowed but also in root tips and shoot tips at a low level. The result suggests that the MADS box gene have played an important role in the rice flower development, though the MADS box may not restrict to the development.