Three FLOWERING LOCUS T-like genes function as potential florigens and mediate photoperiod response in sorghum

Wolabu, T W and Zhang, F and Niu, L and Kalve, S and Bhatnagar-Mathur, P and Muszynski, M G and Tadege, M (2016) Three FLOWERING LOCUS T-like genes function as potential florigens and mediate photoperiod response in sorghum. New Phytologist, 210 (3). pp. 946-959. ISSN 0028646X

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Abstract

Sorghum is a typical short-day (SD) plant and its use in grain or biomass production in temperate regions depends on its flowering time control, but the underlying molecular mechanism of floral transition in sorghum is poorly understood. Here we characterized sorghum FLOWERING LOCUS T (SbFT) genes to establish a molecular road map for mechanistic understanding. Out of 19 PEBP genes, SbFT1, SbFT8 and SbFT10 were identified as potential candidates for encoding florigens using multiple approaches. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that SbFT1 clusters with the rice Hd3a subclade, while SbFT8 and SbFT10 cluster with the maize ZCN8 subclade. These three genes are expressed in the leaf at the floral transition initiation stage, expressed early in grain sorghum genotypes but late in sweet and forage sorghum genotypes, induced by SD treatment in photoperiod-sensitive genotypes, cooperatively repressed by the classical sorghum maturity loci, interact with sorghum 14-3-3 proteins and activate flowering in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, suggesting florigenic potential in sorghum. SD induction of these three genes in sensitive genotypes is fully reversed by 1 wk of long-day treatment, and yet, some aspects of the SD treatment may still make a small contribution to flowering in long days, indicating a complex photoperiod response mediated by SbFT genes.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : Genetic Gains
CRP:	CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Cereals
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Florigen, flowering time, FT, photoperiod response, SbFT, Sb14-3-3, SbFD1, Sorghum bicolor
Subjects:	Mandate crops > Sorghum
Depositing User:	Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited:	08 Jan 2017 12:59
Last Modified:	08 Jan 2017 12:59
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/9846
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph.13834
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	We thank Drs Bill Rooney and Peggy Lemaux for kindly providing BTx623 and Tx430 seeds, and Ismail Dweikat for kindly providing Theis and Rio seeds. We are grateful to USDA-ARS, GRIN for supplying 38M, 44M, 90M and 100M seeds. This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, under award numbers 2013-69005-21284 and 2015- 67014-22888.
Links:	Google Scholar

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