Abstract
Transcriptional changes during somatic embryo development in Fraxinus angustifolia have been analysed by the cDNA-AFLP technique. Polymorphic Transcript Derived Fragments (TDFs), potentially useful for molecular physiological characterisation of somatic embryogenesis in F. angustifolia, were observed. Of 143 TDFs, 15 were sequenced and some showed high similarity with known gene sequences. In particular, TDFs of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, leuco-anthocyanidin dioxygenase and three retrotransposon-like sequences were expressed differentially during the four stages of somatic embryo development. The patterns of expression of these genes, and the potential role(s) of their products in controlling somatic embryogenesis are discussed.