Abstract :
[en] Molecular genetic analyses in Arabidopsis disclosed a genetic pathway whereby flowering is induced by the
photoperiod. This cascade is examined here within the time course of floral transition in the long-day (LD) plant
Sinapis alba induced by a single photoperiodic cycle. In addition to previously available sequences, the cloning
of CONSTANS (SaCO) and FLOWERING LOCUS T (SaFT) homologues allowed expression analyses to be
performed to follow the flowering process step by step. A diurnal rhythm in SaCO expression in the leaves was
observed and transcripts of SaFT were detected when light was given in phase with SaCO kinetics only. This
occurred when day length was extended or when a short day was shifted towards a ‘photophile phase’. The
steady-state level of SaFT transcripts in the various physiological situations examined was found to correlate
like a rheostat with floral induction strength. Kinetics of SaFT activation were also consistent with previous
estimations of translocation of florigen out of leaves, which could actually occur after the inductive cycle. In
response to one 22-h LD, initiation of floral meristems by the shoot apical meristem (SAM) started about 2 days
after activation of SaFT and was marked by expression of APETALA1 (SaAP1). Meanwhile, LEAFY (SaLFY) was
first up-regulated in leaf primordia and in the SAM. FRUITFULL (SaFUL) was later activated in the whole SAM
but excluded from floral meristems. These patterns are integrated with previous observations concerning
upregulation of SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CO1 (SaSOC1) to provide a temporal and spatial map
of floral transition in Sinapis.
Funders :
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique
Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme, Belgian State, Belgian Science Policy, P5/13 and P6/33
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