ABSTRACT
RNA interference (RNAi) is a naturally occurring mechanism that leads to the “silencing” of genes; consequently, the respective targeted protein is no longer synthesized. RNAi technology is used to identify and functionally assess the thousands of genes within the genome that potentially participate in disease development. This technology provides an efficient means in blocking of a specific gene expression and evaluating their response to chemical compounds and in signaling pathways of organisms. The most widely used RNAi technology is aimed to understand in cell culture and in vivo studies for the function of an individual or multiple proteins during various cellular processes. The development of the fertilized egg into an adult organism is a mystery, and RNAi technology can unravel the cellular and molecular events that regulate developmental processes. Methods. In some woody plants, self-incompatibility stands as a major problem in fruit set and breeding programs.
