METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING CROP HAVING LARGE-SIZED FLOWER AND/OR FRUIT

摘要

[PROBLEMS] To provide a crop having large-sized flowers and fruits, cultivation thereof and a genetic improvement method. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] It is specified that a gene encoding choline oxidase (codA gene) is the major gene participating in the enlargement of flower and fruit sizes. Further, it is found out that, in a transgenic tomato plant expressing this gene, glycine betaine is accumulated, the cell count is mainly increased, cells are large-sized and thus flowers and fruits are remarkably large-sized. Namely, a method of constructing a plant having large-sized flowers and/or fruits which comprises transforming a plant by a vector containing a gene encoding choline oxidase; and a plant having large-sized flowers and/or fruits which is constructing by this method or its offspring having the same properties or a part of the plant.