GmAP1d regulates flowering time under long-day photoperiods in soybean

Flowering time is important for adaptation of soybean(Glycine max)to different environments.Here,we conducted a genome-wide association study of flowering time using a panel of 1490 cultivated soybean accessions.We identified three strong signals at the qFT02-2 locus(Chr02:12037319–12238569),which were associated with flowering time in three environments:Gongzhuling,Mengcheng,and Nanchang.By analyzing linkage disequilibrium,gene expression patterns,gene annotation,and the diversity of variants,we identified an AP1 homolog as the candidate gene for the qFT02-2 locus,which we named GmAP1d.Only one nonsynonymous polymorphism existed among 1490 soybean accessions at position Chr02:12087053.Accessions carrying the Chr02:12087053-T allele flowered significantly earlier than those carrying the Chr02:12087053-A allele.Thus,we developed a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence(CAPS)marker for the SNP at Chr02:12087053,which is suitable for marker-assisted breeding of flowering time.Knockout of GmAP1d in the‘Williams 82’background by gene editing promoted flowering under long-day conditions,confirming that GmAP1d is the causal gene for qFT02-2.An analysis of the region surrounding GmAP1d revealed that GmAP1d was artificially selected during the genetic improvement of soybean.Through stepwise selection,the proportion of modern cultivars carrying the Chr02:12087053-T allele has increased,and this allele has become nearly fixed(95%)in northern China.These findings provide a theoretical basis for better understanding the molecular regulatory mechanism of flowering time in soybean and a target gene that can be used for breeding modern soybean cultivars adapted to different latitudes.

Dormancy Characteristics of Malus ‘Snowdrift’ and Effects of Spraying 6-benzyladenine on Its Germination and Flowering in Long-day Treatment

[Objective] The dormancy characteristics of Malus ‘Snowdrift’ in long-day treatment were studied, and 6-BA was used to break the dormancy, with the aim to achieve the purpose of flowering in autumn. [Method] The new shoots of ‘Snowdrift’ in long-day treatment were conducted with hydroponics to investigate their dormancy time. And cytokinin 6-benzyladenine(6-BA)was used to treat the dormant shoots, to investigate the budding, flowering and flower bud differentiation. [Result] The shoots in long-day treatment entered endodormancy after August 7^(th) and the shoots in the natural daylight entered endodormancy before July 18^(th). In long-day treatment, 116 buds, 198 flowers were observed after 6-BA spraying. [Conclusion] The optimum concentration of 6-BA was 300 mg/L. And the flower bud differentiation of ‘Snowdrift’ in long-day treatment was faster than those in natural daylight after 6-BA spraying.

Flowering-time regulation by the circadian clock:From Arabidopsis to crops

Precise timing of flowering in plants is critical for their growth and reproductive processes.One factor controlling flowering time is the cycle of light and darkness within a day,known as the photoperiod.Plants are classified into long-day,short-day,and day-neutral plants based on light requirements for floral initiation.Although the molecular mechanisms that govern this differentiation remain incompletely understood,studies have consistently shown that the circadian clock plays a central role in regulating photoperiod response across diverse plant species.However,there is a scarcity of reviews describing the regulatory network linking the circadian clock with photoperiodic flowering.This review summarizes that regulatory network,focusing on the distinct roles of clock genes in long-day and short-day plants.We also discuss the strategies of clock gene mutations contributing to geographic variation in longday and short-day crops.

Nonfunctional alleles of long-day suppressor genes independently regulate flowering time

Due to the remarkable adaptability to various environments, rice varieties with diverse flowering times have abeen domesticated or improved from Oryza rufipogon.Detailed knowledge of the genetic factors controlling flowering time will facilitate understanding the adaptation mechanism in cultivated rice and enable breeders to design appropriate genotypes for distinct preferences. In this study,four genes（Hd1, DTH8, Ghd7 and OsPRR37） in a rice long-day suppression pathway were collected and sequenced in 154, 74,69 and 62 varieties of cultivated rice（Oryza sativa）respectively. Under long-day conditions, varieties with nonfunctional alleles flowered significantly earlier than those with functional alleles. However, the four genes have different genetic effects in the regulation of flowering time： Hd1 and Os PRR37 are major genes that generally regulate rice flowering time for all varieties, while DTH8 and Ghd7 only regulate regional rice varieties. Geographic analysis and network studies suggested that the nonfunctional alleles of these suppression loci with regional adaptability were derived recently and independently. Alleles with regional adaptability should be taken into consideration for genetic improvement. The rich genetic variations in these four genes,which adapt rice to different environments, provide the flexibility needed for breeding rice varieties with diverse flowering times.