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Flowering time control and applications in plant breeding
Christian Jung1, Andreas E Müller
1Plant Breeding Institute, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, D-24098 Kiel, Germany. c.jung@plantbreeding.uni-kiel.de
Trends in Plant Science
|September 1, 2009
Summary
Plant breeders aim to adjust flowering time for better crop adaptation. Understanding floral regulatory genes in crops allows for targeted breeding and genetic modification to control flowering and bolting.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Genetics
- Crop Breeding
Background:
- Adjusting plant reproduction timing is crucial for crop breeding and adaptation to climate change.
- Key regulators of the floral transition are well-studied in model plants, with increasing identification in crop species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review major floral regulatory pathways in plants.
- To discuss current and novel strategies for altering bolting and flowering in crop plants.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of floral regulatory pathways.
- Analysis of gene identification and application in crop species.
Main Results:
- Identification of key floral regulatory genes in model and crop species.
- Availability of sequences and variants for molecular marker development and genetic modification.
- Discovery of crop-specific major genes influencing flowering time.
Conclusions:
- Genetic understanding of floral transition enables breeders to develop improved crop varieties.
- Molecular markers and targeted genetic modification offer powerful tools for controlling flowering time and bolting behavior.
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