Mechanisms of Vernalization-Induced Flowering in Legumes
Vernalization is the requirement for exposure to low temperatures to trigger flowering. The best knowledge about the mechanisms of vernalization response has been accumulated for <i>Arabidopsis</i> and cereals. In <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>, vernalization involves an epigene...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/17/9889 |
| Summary: | Vernalization is the requirement for exposure to low temperatures to trigger flowering. The best knowledge about the mechanisms of vernalization response has been accumulated for <i>Arabidopsis</i> and cereals. In <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>, vernalization involves an epigenetic silencing of the MADS-box gene <i>FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC)</i>, which is a flowering repressor. <i>FLC</i> silencing releases the expression of the main flowering inductor <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)</i>, resulting in a floral transition. Remarkably, no <i>FLC</i> homologues have been identified in the vernalization-responsive legumes, and the mechanisms of cold-mediated transition to flowering in these species remain elusive. Nevertheless, legume <i>FT</i> genes have been shown to retain the function of the main vernalization signal integrators. Unlike <i>Arabidopsis</i>, legumes have three subclades of <i>FT</i> genes, which demonstrate distinct patterns of regulation with respect to environmental cues and tissue specificity. This implies complex mechanisms of vernalization signal propagation in the flowering network, that remain largely elusive. Here, for the first time, we summarize the available information on the genetic basis of cold-induced flowering in legumes with a special focus on the role of <i>FT</i> genes. |
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| ISSN: | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |