Molecular Cues for Phenological Events in the Flowering Cycle in Avocado
Reproductively mature horticultural trees undergo an annual flowering cycle that repeats each year of their reproductive life. This annual flowering cycle is critical for horticultural tree productivity. However, the molecular events underlying the regulation of flowering in tropical tree crops such...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/12/2304 |
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| author | Muhammad Umair Ahsan Francois Barbier Alice Hayward Rosanna Powell Helen Hofman Siegrid Carola Parfitt John Wilkie Christine Anne Beveridge Neena Mitter |
| author_facet | Muhammad Umair Ahsan Francois Barbier Alice Hayward Rosanna Powell Helen Hofman Siegrid Carola Parfitt John Wilkie Christine Anne Beveridge Neena Mitter |
| author_sort | Muhammad Umair Ahsan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Reproductively mature horticultural trees undergo an annual flowering cycle that repeats each year of their reproductive life. This annual flowering cycle is critical for horticultural tree productivity. However, the molecular events underlying the regulation of flowering in tropical tree crops such as avocado are not fully understood or documented. In this study, we investigated the potential molecular cues regulating the yearly flowering cycle in avocado for two consecutive crop cycles. Homologues of flowering-related genes were identified and assessed for their expression profiles in various tissues throughout the year. Avocado homologues of known floral genes <i>FT</i>, <i>AP1</i>, <i>LFY</i>, <i>FUL</i>, <i>SPL9</i>, <i>CO</i> and <i>SEP2</i>/<i>AGL4</i> were upregulated at the typical time of floral induction for avocado trees growing in Queensland, Australia. We suggest these are potential candidate markers for floral initiation in these crops. In addition, <i>DAM</i> and <i>DRM1</i>, which are associated with endodormancy, were downregulated at the time of floral bud break. In this study, a positive correlation between <i>CO</i> activation and <i>FT</i> in avocado leaves to regulate flowering was not seen. Furthermore, the <i>SOC1-SPL4</i> model described in annual plants appears to be conserved in avocado. Lastly, no correlation of juvenility-related miRNAs miR156, miR172 with any phenological event was observed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:00:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53e882f585c34140ae5b47675221a5d4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:00:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-53e882f585c34140ae5b47675221a5d42023-11-18T12:10:15ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-06-011212230410.3390/plants12122304Molecular Cues for Phenological Events in the Flowering Cycle in AvocadoMuhammad Umair Ahsan0Francois Barbier1Alice Hayward2Rosanna Powell3Helen Hofman4Siegrid Carola Parfitt5John Wilkie6Christine Anne Beveridge7Neena Mitter8Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, AustraliaSchool of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, AustraliaQueensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, AustraliaSchool of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, AustraliaDepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland Government, Bundaberg, QLD 4670, AustraliaDepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland Government, Bundaberg, QLD 4670, AustraliaDepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland Government, Bundaberg, QLD 4670, AustraliaSchool of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, AustraliaQueensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, AustraliaReproductively mature horticultural trees undergo an annual flowering cycle that repeats each year of their reproductive life. This annual flowering cycle is critical for horticultural tree productivity. However, the molecular events underlying the regulation of flowering in tropical tree crops such as avocado are not fully understood or documented. In this study, we investigated the potential molecular cues regulating the yearly flowering cycle in avocado for two consecutive crop cycles. Homologues of flowering-related genes were identified and assessed for their expression profiles in various tissues throughout the year. Avocado homologues of known floral genes <i>FT</i>, <i>AP1</i>, <i>LFY</i>, <i>FUL</i>, <i>SPL9</i>, <i>CO</i> and <i>SEP2</i>/<i>AGL4</i> were upregulated at the typical time of floral induction for avocado trees growing in Queensland, Australia. We suggest these are potential candidate markers for floral initiation in these crops. In addition, <i>DAM</i> and <i>DRM1</i>, which are associated with endodormancy, were downregulated at the time of floral bud break. In this study, a positive correlation between <i>CO</i> activation and <i>FT</i> in avocado leaves to regulate flowering was not seen. Furthermore, the <i>SOC1-SPL4</i> model described in annual plants appears to be conserved in avocado. Lastly, no correlation of juvenility-related miRNAs miR156, miR172 with any phenological event was observed.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/12/2304avocadoflowering genesFTAP1COphenology |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Umair Ahsan Francois Barbier Alice Hayward Rosanna Powell Helen Hofman Siegrid Carola Parfitt John Wilkie Christine Anne Beveridge Neena Mitter Molecular Cues for Phenological Events in the Flowering Cycle in Avocado Plants avocado flowering genes FT AP1 CO phenology |
| title | Molecular Cues for Phenological Events in the Flowering Cycle in Avocado |
| title_full | Molecular Cues for Phenological Events in the Flowering Cycle in Avocado |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Cues for Phenological Events in the Flowering Cycle in Avocado |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Cues for Phenological Events in the Flowering Cycle in Avocado |
| title_short | Molecular Cues for Phenological Events in the Flowering Cycle in Avocado |
| title_sort | molecular cues for phenological events in the flowering cycle in avocado |
| topic | avocado flowering genes FT AP1 CO phenology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/12/2304 |
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