[en] Vernalization is known to promote flowering in Arabidopsis via the repression by cold of the floral inhibitor gene FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). For long, FLC homologs have been found in Brassicaceae only but it was recently reported that in sugar beet, the FLC-like gene BvFL1 functions as a repressor of flowering and is downregulated in response to cold. We describe here the cloning of CiFL1 from root chicory (Cichorium intybus). Expression patterns were studied in two cultivars, differing in their sensitivity to vernalization. Transcript level analyzes were performed during the vernalization treatment of the seedlings and in different post-vernalization conditions. Our results give further support to conservation of the biological function of FLC-like genes in eudicot species.
