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FLOWERING LOCUS T genes control onion bulb formation and flowering

Author

Listed:
  • Robyn Lee

    (University of Otago, 9016 Dunedin)

  • Samantha Baldwin

    (Breeding and Genomics, New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research)

  • Fernand Kenel

    (Breeding and Genomics, New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research)

  • John McCallum

    (Breeding and Genomics, New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research)

  • Richard Macknight

    (University of Otago, 9016 Dunedin)

Abstract

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a biennial crop that in temperate regions is planted in the spring and, after a juvenile stage, forms a bulb in response to the lengthening photoperiod of late spring/summer. The bulb then overwinters and in the next season it flowers and sets seed. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) encodes a mobile signaling protein involved in regulating flowering, as well as other aspects of plant development. Here we show that in onions, different FT genes regulate flowering and bulb formation. Flowering is promoted by vernalization and correlates with the upregulation of AcFT2, whereas bulb formation is regulated by two antagonistic FT-like genes. AcFT1 promotes bulb formation, while AcFT4 prevents AcFT1 upregulation and inhibits bulbing in transgenic onions. Long-day photoperiods lead to the downregulation of AcFT4 and the upregulation of AcFT1, and this promotes bulbing. The observation that FT proteins can repress and promote different developmental transitions highlights the evolutionary versatility of FT.

Suggested Citation

  • Robyn Lee & Samantha Baldwin & Fernand Kenel & John McCallum & Richard Macknight, 2013. "FLOWERING LOCUS T genes control onion bulb formation and flowering," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms3884
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3884
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    Cited by:

    1. Lamia Khatun & Md. Rezaul Karim & Fakhar Uddin Talukder & Md. Sohanur Rahman & Md. Israfil Jahan, 2020. "Vernalization And Gibberellic Acid Response In Summer Onion’s (Allium Cepa L.) Reproductive Phases," Tropical Agroecosystems (TAEC), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 1(1), pages 7-14, July.
    2. Agnieszka Sekara & Robert Pokluda & Laura Del Vacchio & Silvano Somma & Gianluca Caruso, 2017. "Interactions among genotype, environment and agronomic practices on production and quality of storage onion (Allium cepa L.) - A review," Horticultural Science, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 44(1), pages 21-42.

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