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Published on: March 30, 2018
CONSTANS Controls Floral Repression by Up-Regulating VERNALIZATION2 (VRN-H2) in Barley
Muhammad Aman Mulki1, Maria von Korff2
1Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, D-50829 Cologne, Germany (M.A.M., M.v.K.);Institute of Plant Genetics, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany (M.A.M., M.v.K.); andCluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, From Complex Traits towards Synthetic Modules, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany (M.v.K.).
Barley flowering is regulated by PHOTOPERIOD1 (Ppd-H1) and VERNALIZATION2 (VRN-H2) genes. HvCO genes interact with Ppd-H1 and VRN-H2 to control flowering time and vernalization pathways in barley.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Barley flowering is influenced by photoperiod and vernalization.
- PHOTOPERIOD1 (Ppd-H1) promotes flowering under long days.
- VERNALIZATION2 (VRN-H2) represses flowering before vernalization.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the roles of barley CONSTANS (HvCO1, HvCO2) homologs in flowering control.
- Elucidate interactions between HvCO genes, Ppd-H1, and VRN-H2.
- Understand the regulation of flowering time and vernalization pathways in barley.
Main Methods:
- Overexpression of HvCO2 in spring barley (lacking VRN-H2).
- Overexpression of HvCO1/CO2 in winter barley (carrying VRN-H2).
- Analysis of gene expression (HvFT1, VRN-H2, Ppd-H1, HvCO2) under varying light conditions.
- Studying natural variation at Ppd-H1.
Main Results:
- HvCO2 overexpression induced flowering in spring barley, dependent on Ppd-H1.
- HvCO1/CO2 overexpression increased VRN-H2, reducing HvFT1 expression and delaying flowering in winter barley.
- Ppd-H1 variation affected VRN-H2 expression, and VRN-H2 modulated Ppd-H1 and HvCO2 expression.
- Reciprocal interactions were observed between HvCO2, Ppd-H1, and VRN-H2.
Conclusions:
- HvCO1/CO2 and Ppd-H1 regulate both the floral repressor VRN-H2 and the floral activator HvFT1.
- These genes coordinate photoperiodic control with the vernalization pathway in barley.
- Findings offer novel insights into barley flowering time regulation.
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