MdPIN1b encodes a putative auxin efflux carrier and has different expression patterns in BC and M9 apple rootstocks.

KEY MESSAGE: Lower promoter activity is closely associated with lower MdPIN1b expression in the M9 interstem, which might contribute to the dwarfing effect in apple trees. Apple trees grafted onto dwarfing rootstock Malling 9 (M9) produce dwarfing tree architecture with high yield and widely applying in production. Previously, we have reported that in Malus 'Red Fuji' (RF) trees growing on M9 interstem and Baleng Crab (BC) rootstock, IAA content was relatively higher in bark tissue of M9 interstem than that in scion or rootstock. As IAA polar transportation largely depends on the PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin efflux carrier. Herein, we identify two putative auxin efflux carrier genes in Malus genus, MdPIN1a and MdPIN1b, which were closely related to the AtPIN1. We found that MdPIN1b was expressed preferentially in BC and M9, and the expression of MdPIN1b was significantly lower in the phloem of M9 interstem than that in the scion and rootstock. The distinct expression of MdPIN1b and IAA content were concentrated in the cambium and adjacent xylem or phloem, and MdPIN1b protein was localized on cell plasma membrane in onion epidermal cells transiently expressing 35S:MdPIN1b-GFP fusion protein. Interestingly, an MdPIN1b mutant allele in the promoter region upstream of M9 exhibited decreased MdPIN1b expression compared to BC. MdPIN1b over-expressing interstem in tobacco exhibited increased polar auxin transport. It is proposed that natural allelic differences decreased promoter activity is closely associated with lower MdPIN1b expression in the M9 interstem, which might limit the basipetal transport of auxin, and in turn might contribute to the dwarfing effect. Taken together, these results reveal allelic variation underlying an important apple rootstock trait, and specifically a novel molecular genetic mechanism underlying dwarfing mechanism.