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Environmental responsiveness of flowering time in cassava genotypes and associated transcriptome changes
Deborah N Oluwasanya1,2, Andreas Gisel2,3, Livia Stavolone2,4
1Section of Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America.
Plos One
|July 21, 2021
Summary
Cassava flowering time is influenced by environmental conditions, especially for late-flowering varieties. Cooler temperatures and reduced expression of the TEMPRANILLO 1 gene promote earlier flowering in this vital food security crop.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Agricultural Science
- Genetics
Background:
- Cassava is a crucial food security crop in tropical regions.
- Delayed and poor flowering in cassava hinders breeding programs and lengthens the breeding cycle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate genotype and environment interactions affecting cassava flowering time.
- To identify molecular mechanisms underlying flowering responses to environmental cues.
Main Methods:
- Studied cassava flowering under diverse Nigerian field conditions and controlled temperature environments.
- Analyzed leaf transcriptomes to assess gene expression patterns related to flowering.
- Correlated gene expression with flowering time across different genotypes and environments.
Main Results:
- Early flowering cassava genotypes exhibited consistent flowering times across all conditions.
- Late flowering genotypes showed significant delays in unfavorable environments, with cooler temperatures promoting earlier flowering.
- Low expression of the TEMPRANILLO 1 (TEM1) gene correlated with early flowering, indicating its role as a flowering repressor.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors, particularly temperature, significantly impact cassava flowering time, especially in late-flowering varieties.
- The TEMPRANILLO 1 gene is a key regulator of flowering time in cassava, with reduced expression facilitating earlier flowering.
- Understanding these interactions can optimize cassava breeding strategies for improved crop yields and food security.
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