Contemplation on wheat vernalization

Abstract

Vernalization is a period of low non-freezing temperatures, which provides the competence to flower. This mechanism ensures that plants sown before winter develop reproductive organs in more favourable conditions during spring. Such an evolutionary mechanism has evolved in both monocot and eudicot plants. Studies in monocots, represented by temperate cereals like wheat and barley, have identified and proposed the VERNALIZATION1 (VRN1) gene as a key player in the vernalization response. VRN1 belongs to MADS-box transcription factors and is expressed in the leaves and the apical meristem, where it subsequently promotes flowering. Despite substantial research advancement in the last two decades, there are still gaps in our understanding of the vernalization mechanism. Here we summarise the present knowledge of wheat vernalization. We discuss VRN1 allelic variation, review vernalization models, talk VRN1 copy number variation and devernalization phenomenon. Finally, we suggest possible future directions of the vernalization research in wheat.

Silencing of a raspberry homologue ofVRN1is associated with disruption of dormancy induction and misregulation of subsets of dormancy-associated genes

“…This gene is annotated as VRN1 , VERNALIZATION1 in Arabidopsis thaliana . VRN1 is involved in vernalisation and transition between vegetative and reproductive stages, and is widely characterised in Arabidopsis (reviewed in Banerjee, Wani, and Roychoudhury 2017), as well as barley (Deng et al 2015) and wheat (reviewed in Milec, Strejčková, and Šafář 2023). This gene homologue was highly expressed in Glen Ample during dormancy induction up to time point 3 ( Fig.…”

“…transcription factor holding a central role in the vernalization pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana by repressing FLC (FLOWERING LOCUS C) (Levy et al 2002;Milec et al 2023). Links between regulation of vernalization and dormancy through epigenetic mechanisms have been previously reviewed (Considine and Foyer 2014;D.…”

“…The cultivar Glen Dee exhibits two insertions of 774 bp and 300 bp, at the distal and proximal regions of the promoter, and no expression was detected in our data. RiVRN1.1 is an ortholog of VRN1, ( VERNALIZATION 1), a MADS-box transcription factor holding a central role in the vernalization pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana by repressing FLC ( FLOWERING LOCUS C ) (Levy et al 2002; Milec et al 2023). Links between regulation of vernalization and dormancy through epigenetic mechanisms have been previously reviewed (Considine and Foyer 2014; D. Horvath 2009; Maurya and Bhalerao 2017; Ríos et al 2014).…”

Allelic Variations in Vernalization (Vrn) Genes in Triticum spp.

“…However, the promoter region was not covered and investigated, thus leaving gaps at both species and gene levels. Similarly, the Vrn-B1c allele reported by Milec et al [104] and Chu et al [22] was renamed as Vrn-B1d in the Catalog of Gene Symbols for Wheat [105], but it is unrelated to the Vrn-B1d allele reported by Zhang et al [88]. In addition, in most cases, the focus was carried out without considering the CNV at the Vrn-A1 gene.…”

Population Structure of Modern Winter Wheat Accessions from Central Asia

“…Wheat is commonly classified into spring and winter types; the former requires a long period of low temperature to accomplish vernalization [ 3 ]. Genetically, these two types of wheat are determined by the expressions of three Vrn genes in the vernalization response process [ 4 , 5 ]. In Central Asia, these two types of wheat show different priorities in terms of growth, as spring wheat dominates in Kazakhstan and winter wheat prevails in the other countries.…”