Articles
The role of LEAFY in floral formation in kiwifruit
Article number
1431_22
Pages
169 – 176
Language
English
Abstract
Flower development heralds sexual reproduction and ensuing production of fruits and seeds, therefore, optimised flowering time and flower development is crucial for productivity.
In the reference plant, Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), the LEAFY (LFY) gene encodes a pioneer transcription factor that plays a major role in inflorescence meristem identity and floral development. Lfy mutants form inflorescence shoots in the place of flowers and produce sterile flowers without petals and stamens. LFY shows elevated expression in the shoot apex during the transition to flowering, while the TFL1/CEN flowering repressor restricts LFY expression to the flanks of the shoot apical meristem, enabling indeterminate growth of the primary inflorescence.
We analyzed the expression and function of two kiwifruit LFY genes.
Both AcLFY genes were predominantly expressed in terminal and axillary buds at similar levels during spring and summer when the initial stages of kiwifruit floral evocation occurs.
In addition, they were regulated by the floral repressors CEN/CEN4 in axillary buds, further implicating them in flowering.
Overexpression of AcLFY1 and AcLFY2 induced early flowering in Arabidopsis. AcLFY overexpression and editing in kiwifruit is underway.
To further understand the mechanism of LFY action, the interactions between LFY and other floral regulators such as SOC1 are being investigated through promoter activation transient assays.
Overall, this study implicates the two LFY genes as being critical for normal floral and fruit development in kiwifruit.
In the reference plant, Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), the LEAFY (LFY) gene encodes a pioneer transcription factor that plays a major role in inflorescence meristem identity and floral development. Lfy mutants form inflorescence shoots in the place of flowers and produce sterile flowers without petals and stamens. LFY shows elevated expression in the shoot apex during the transition to flowering, while the TFL1/CEN flowering repressor restricts LFY expression to the flanks of the shoot apical meristem, enabling indeterminate growth of the primary inflorescence.
We analyzed the expression and function of two kiwifruit LFY genes.
Both AcLFY genes were predominantly expressed in terminal and axillary buds at similar levels during spring and summer when the initial stages of kiwifruit floral evocation occurs.
In addition, they were regulated by the floral repressors CEN/CEN4 in axillary buds, further implicating them in flowering.
Overexpression of AcLFY1 and AcLFY2 induced early flowering in Arabidopsis. AcLFY overexpression and editing in kiwifruit is underway.
To further understand the mechanism of LFY action, the interactions between LFY and other floral regulators such as SOC1 are being investigated through promoter activation transient assays.
Overall, this study implicates the two LFY genes as being critical for normal floral and fruit development in kiwifruit.
Publication
Authors
Y. Peng, C. Voogd, C. Deng, A.C. Allan, E. Varkonyi-Gasic, J. Putterill
Keywords
kiwifruit flowering, LEAFY, CRISPR, gene editing, floral formation
Online Articles (78)