Selection of Reference Genes for Gene Expression Studies in Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) Using qPCR

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 59; no. 10; pp. 5402 - 5411
• Main Authors: Obrero, Ángeles, Die, Jose V, Román, Belén, Gómez, Pedro, Nadal, Salvador, González-Verdejo, Clara I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 25.05.2011
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Chemical Aspects of Biotechnology/Molecular Biology; complementary DNA; Cucurbita - genetics; Cucurbita - growth & development; Cucurbita pepo; developmental stages; DNA Primers - genetics; DNA, Complementary - analysis; DNA, Plant - analysis; Food industries; foods; Fruit and vegetable industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gene expression; Gene Expression - genetics; genes; Genes, Plant - genetics; horticultural crops; new variety; Polymerase Chain Reaction; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; ribosomal RNA; zucchini; reference genes; Cucurbita pepo; qPCR; zucchini; normalization; Vegetables; Reference; Selection; Cucurbitaceae; Gene expression; Marrow; Gene; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf200689r

The zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) is an important food crop, the transcriptomics of which are a fundamental tool to accelerate the development of new varieties by breeders. However, the suitability of reference genes for data normalization in zucchini has not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of 13 genes for their potential use as reference genes in quantitative real-time PCR. Assays were performed on 34 cDNA samples representing plants under different stresses and at different developmental stages. The application of geNorm and NormFinder software revealed that the use of a combination of UFP, EF-1A, RPL36aA, PP2A, and CAC genes for the different experimental sets was the best strategy for reliable normalization. In contrast, 18S rRNA and TUA were less stable and unsuitable for use as internal controls. These results provide the possibility to allow more accurate use of qPCR in this horticultural crop.