Winter Memory throughout the Plant Kingdom: Different Paths to Flowering

Focus on Flowering and Reproduction

“…The daylength response system has common features in all flowering plants, indicating an ancient evolutionary origin. In contrast, vernalization systems, which evolved to enable flowering only after plants experienced exposure to the prolonged cold of winter, evolved more recently and, as discussed in the Update by Bouché et al (2017) In some species, a specific developmental state must be reached before plants can respond to seasonal cues; Hyun et al (2017) discuss in an Update recent advances in our understanding of how such systems operate. Within a species, there is often substantial natural variation in flowering responses.…”

From species to trait evolution in Aethionema (Brassicaceae)

“…The multi-trait and multi-environment QTL analyses indeed show one major QTL (Q8.2) explaining up to 37% of the variation of the lines (Table 1). Preliminary fine mapping this region indicated fifteen genes, among which the sulphate transporter SULTR2;1 and FLOWERING TIME LOCUS C (FLC, one of the MADS-box transcription factors that regulated flowering in Brassicaceae (Ietswaart et al 2012, Bouché et al 2016 are the most intriguing candidates.…”

“…The MADS-Box gene FLOWERING TIME LOCUS C (FLC) is expressed throughout the life cycle and in many tissues of Brassicaceae species. However, it is primarily known as a floral repressor in meristems where expression is stably repressed upon prolonged cold-treatment or vernalization (Deng et al 2011, Bouché et al 2016, Ietswaart et al 2012. Aethionema arabicum is a relatively fast flowering annual and does not require vernalization.…”

“…There is a large body of research that investigates plant development: mainly the molecular background of the transition from vegetative to a generative state (Deng et al 2011, Bouché et al 2016 and the references therein). There is also a great deal of research on the plant defences against herbivores and their fitness effects (reviewed by Hopkins et al 2009).…”

“…BCAT3 and GS-ELONG genes regulate chain length during the first step in the GS biosynthesis and AOP1-3 and FMO-GS-OX1-5 modify the side chains during the last step of the GS pathway (Sønderby et al, 2010 and the references therein). Arabidopsis thaliana is also an important model species for understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating flowering time (Bouché et al, 2016 and the references therein). The switch from vegetative to a generative state is one of the most important moments in the life-cycle of a plant, moderated by abiotic and biotic cues.…”