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Interaction of Photoperiod and Vernalization Determines Flowering Time of Brachypodium distachyon1[C][W][OPEN]
The temperate grass, Brachypodium distachyon, is a useful model for studying gene networks controlling flowering . Timing of flowering is key to the reproductive success of many plants. In temperate climates, flowering is often coordinated with seasonal environmental cues such as temperature and pho...
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Published in: | Plant physiology (Bethesda) 2013-12, Vol.164 (2), p.694-709 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | The temperate grass, Brachypodium distachyon, is a useful model for studying gene networks controlling flowering
.
Timing of flowering is key to the reproductive success of many plants. In temperate climates, flowering is often coordinated with seasonal environmental cues such as temperature and photoperiod. Vernalization is an example of temperature influencing the timing of flowering and is defined as the process by which a prolonged exposure to the cold of winter results in competence to flower during the following spring. In cereals, three genes (
VERNALIZATION1
[
VRN1
],
VRN2
, and
FLOWERING LOCUS T
[
FT
]) have been identified that influence the vernalization requirement and are thought to form a regulatory loop to control the timing of flowering. Here, we characterize natural variation in the vernalization and photoperiod responses in
Brachypodium distachyon
, a small temperate grass related to wheat (
Triticum aestivum
) and barley (
Hordeum vulgare
).
Brachypodium
spp. accessions display a wide range of flowering responses to different photoperiods and lengths of vernalization. In addition, we characterize the expression patterns of the closest homologs of
VRN1
,
VRN2
(
VRN2-like
[
BdVRN2L
]), and
FT
before, during, and after cold exposure as well as in different photoperiods.
FT
messenger RNA levels generally correlate with flowering time among accessions grown in different photoperiods, and
FT
is more highly expressed in vernalized plants after cold.
VRN1
is induced by cold in leaves and remains high following vernalization. Plants overexpressing
VRN1
or
FT
flower rapidly in the absence of vernalization, and plants overexpressing
VRN1
exhibit lower
BdVRN2L
levels. Interestingly,
BdVRN2L
is induced during cold, which is a difference in the behavior of
BdVRN2L
compared with wheat
VRN2
during cold. |
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ISSN: | 0032-0889 1532-2548 |
DOI: | 10.1104/pp.113.232678 |