摘要
In the attempt to discover new genes involved in the floral development in monocotyledonousin species,we have cloned and characterized the homologous PISTALLATA-like(PI-like)gene from Phalaenopsis hybrid cultivar named PhPI9(Phalaenopsis PI STILLATA#9).The cDNA of PhPI9 has a fragment of 834 bp and has 60%identity with the PISTILATA from Arabidopsis.The deduced amino acid sequence of PhPI9 had the typical PI-motif.It also formed a subclade with other monocot PI-type genes in phylogenetic analysis.Southern analysis showed that PhPI9 was present in the Phalaenopsis orchid genome as a single copy.Furthermore,it was expressed only in the lip of the Phalaenopsis flower and no expression was detected in vegetative organs.Thus,as a B-function MADS-box gene,PhPI9 specifies floral organ identity in orchids.