ABSTRACT
Objective: To clone bZIP20 (basic region/leucine zipper motif) gene from Carthamus tinctorius, analyze the expression level in different plant tissues, and construct the plant expression vector. Methods: The bZIP20 gene was cloned by RT-PCR techniques, and the protein characteristics were analyzed by bioinformatics, and phylogenetic tree was constructed. The expression of bZIP20 gene in different tissues and the roots after inoculated by Fusarium oxysporum were analyzed using real time-PCR, and the plant expression vector pBASTA-bZIP20 was constructed. Results: The ORF sequence of bZIP20 gene was 981 bp, encoded a protein of 326 amino acids (GenBank: KT692605). Sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analyses showed that bZIP20 had 85.41% and 83.99% of consistency with bZIP of Sesamum indicum and Camellia assamica. Real-time PCR results showed significant differences, the highest expression level of bZIP20 gene was detected in flower, and was highest in the bud period, bZIP20 gene was significantly increased in root tissue inoculated with F. oxysporum. The plant expression vector pBASTA-bZIP20 was obtained. Conclusion: The bZIP20 gene of safflower is successfully cloned, and the expression is analyzed. The plant expression vector pBASTA-bZIP20 is constructed.