Rootstock Affects Floral Induction in Citrus Engaging the Expression of the <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT)</i>
In <i>Citrus</i>, flower induction represents the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. The regulation of flower induction is mainly triggered by exposure to low temperatures and water-deficit stress, which activates the signaling cascade leading to an increased expression o...
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/2/140 |
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| author | Stefania Bennici Giuseppina Las Casas Gaetano Distefano Alessandra Gentile Giuseppe Lana Mario Di Guardo Elisabetta Nicolosi Stefano La Malfa Alberto Continella |
| author_facet | Stefania Bennici Giuseppina Las Casas Gaetano Distefano Alessandra Gentile Giuseppe Lana Mario Di Guardo Elisabetta Nicolosi Stefano La Malfa Alberto Continella |
| author_sort | Stefania Bennici |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In <i>Citrus</i>, flower induction represents the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. The regulation of flower induction is mainly triggered by exposure to low temperatures and water-deficit stress, which activates the signaling cascade leading to an increased expression of the citrus orthologs of the <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T</i> (<i>CiFT</i>). In this study, the relationship between rootstock and flower induction under Mediterranean field conditions was investigated by monitoring the expression levels of the floral promoter <i>CiFT2</i> in leaves of the pigmented sweet orange “Tarocco Scirè” grafted onto “C35” citrange and “Swingle” citrumelo rootstocks. The latter two are known to confer, respectively, high and low yield efficiency to the scion. In both rootstock/scion combinations, <i>CiFT2</i> showed a seasonal expression with a peak during the inductive period in January triggered by cold temperature. The “Tarocco Scirè”/”C35” citrange combination showed the highest expression levels for <i>CiFT2</i>; this increased expression was correlated with yield and a higher number of flowers in the following spring, suggesting a significant effect of rootstocks on flower induction mediated by the overexpression of the <i>CiFT2</i> gene. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:05:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6511537925bb45d38c0c83029703e22a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:05:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-6511537925bb45d38c0c83029703e22a2023-12-03T12:55:12ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722021-02-0111214010.3390/agriculture11020140Rootstock Affects Floral Induction in Citrus Engaging the Expression of the <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT)</i>Stefania Bennici0Giuseppina Las Casas1Gaetano Distefano2Alessandra Gentile3Giuseppe Lana4Mario Di Guardo5Elisabetta Nicolosi6Stefano La Malfa7Alberto Continella8Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, ItalyIn <i>Citrus</i>, flower induction represents the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. The regulation of flower induction is mainly triggered by exposure to low temperatures and water-deficit stress, which activates the signaling cascade leading to an increased expression of the citrus orthologs of the <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T</i> (<i>CiFT</i>). In this study, the relationship between rootstock and flower induction under Mediterranean field conditions was investigated by monitoring the expression levels of the floral promoter <i>CiFT2</i> in leaves of the pigmented sweet orange “Tarocco Scirè” grafted onto “C35” citrange and “Swingle” citrumelo rootstocks. The latter two are known to confer, respectively, high and low yield efficiency to the scion. In both rootstock/scion combinations, <i>CiFT2</i> showed a seasonal expression with a peak during the inductive period in January triggered by cold temperature. The “Tarocco Scirè”/”C35” citrange combination showed the highest expression levels for <i>CiFT2</i>; this increased expression was correlated with yield and a higher number of flowers in the following spring, suggesting a significant effect of rootstocks on flower induction mediated by the overexpression of the <i>CiFT2</i> gene.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/2/140reproductive biologyendogenous factorgene expression“C35” citrange“Swingle” citrumelo<i>Citrus sinensis</i> (L.) Osb |
| spellingShingle | Stefania Bennici Giuseppina Las Casas Gaetano Distefano Alessandra Gentile Giuseppe Lana Mario Di Guardo Elisabetta Nicolosi Stefano La Malfa Alberto Continella Rootstock Affects Floral Induction in Citrus Engaging the Expression of the <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT)</i> Agriculture reproductive biology endogenous factor gene expression “C35” citrange “Swingle” citrumelo <i>Citrus sinensis</i> (L.) Osb |
| title | Rootstock Affects Floral Induction in Citrus Engaging the Expression of the <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT)</i> |
| title_full | Rootstock Affects Floral Induction in Citrus Engaging the Expression of the <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT)</i> |
| title_fullStr | Rootstock Affects Floral Induction in Citrus Engaging the Expression of the <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT)</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rootstock Affects Floral Induction in Citrus Engaging the Expression of the <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT)</i> |
| title_short | Rootstock Affects Floral Induction in Citrus Engaging the Expression of the <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT)</i> |
| title_sort | rootstock affects floral induction in citrus engaging the expression of the i flowering locus t cift i |
| topic | reproductive biology endogenous factor gene expression “C35” citrange “Swingle” citrumelo <i>Citrus sinensis</i> (L.) Osb |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/2/140 |
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