Organ-specific expression of a genetic factor inducing monoterpene synthesis in the calyx of Perilla frutescens

The leaves of Perilla frutescens var. acuta and var. japonica plants, produce monoterpenoids (MTs) in the presence of the dominant gene G, whereas the leaves of the same plants of the gg genotype, synthesize phenylpropanoids (PPs) in place of MTs. In this work, both PPs and MTs were shown to accumulate in the calyxes of the same plants of genotype gg, whereas only PPs were detected in those of P. frutescens var. citriodora and var. hirtella of the gg genotype which accumulated only PPs in the leaves. These results suggested the existence of another dominant gene G' which is hypostatic to the gene G and induces the biosynthesis of MTs only in the calyx in the absence of G.