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Arabidopsis abi3 mutants are altered in various aspects of seed development and germination that reflect a decreased responsiveness to the hormone abscisic acid. The AB13 gene has been isolated by positional cloning. A detailed restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) map of the abi3 region was constructed. An RFLP marker closely linked to the abi3 locus was identified, and by analyzing an overlapping set of cosmid clones containing this marker, the abi3 locus was localized within a 35-kb region. An 11-kb subfragment was then shown to complement the mutant phenotype in transgenic plants, thereby further delimiting the position of the locus. A candidate AB13 gene was identified within this fragment as being expressed in developing fruits. The primary structure of the encoded protein was deduced from sequence analysis of a corresponding cDNA clone. In the most severe abi3-4 allele, the size of this predicted protein was reduced by 40% due to the presence of a point mutation that introduced a premature stop codon. The predicted AB13 protein displays discrete regions of high similarity to the maize viviparous-7 protein.

Eleven loci that play a role in the synthesis of flavonoids in Arabidopsis are described. Mutations at these loci, collectively named transparent testa (tt), disrupt the synthesis of brown pigments in the seed coat (testa). Several of these loci (tt3, tt4, tt5 and ttg) are also required for the accumulation of purple anthocyanins in leaves and stems and one locus (ttg) plays additional roles in trichome and root hair development. Specific functions were previously assigned to tt1-7 and ttg. Here, the results of additional genetic, biochemical and molecular analyses of these mutants are described. Genetic map positions were determined for tt8, tt9 and tt10. Thin-layer chromatography identified tissue- and locus-specific differences in the flavonols and anthocyanidins synthesized by mutant and wild-type plants. It was found that UV light reveals distinct differences in the floral tissues of tt3, tt4, tt5, tt6 and ttg, even though these tissues are indistinguishable under visible light. Evidence was also uncovered that tt8 and ttg specifically affect dihydroflavonol reductase gene expression. A summary of these and previously published results are incorporated into an overview of the genetics of flavonoid biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

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