An international research team has uncovered fundamental mechanisms regulating flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana, as detailed in a recent publication in the journal Plant Physiology. The study investigates the interplay between carbon and nitrogen signalling pathways and their influence on the expression of the floral repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). Dr Justyna Olas who is co-first author on this study and now a junior research group leader at the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), continues to integrate these findings into her ongoing research towards sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.
The study demonstrates that carbon and nitrogen signals are crucial regulators of flowering time. Both, the trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) and nitrogen signaling pathways converge within the flowering network to modulates the activity of the same target: FLC. These findings highlight how these nutrient signalling pathways are intricately linked, working together to fine-tune flowering processes. This precise regulation enables plants to optimally adapt their development to environmental conditions and nutrient availability. These insights advance our understanding of the complex signalling mechanisms that govern plant development and environmental adaptation
These findings offer potential avenues for developing plants that utilize resources more efficiently and better withstand climate challenges.
Read the paper: Plant Physiology
Article source: Leibniz-Institut für Gemüse- und Zierpflanzenbau (IGZ)
Author: Julia Vogt
Image credit: The Trehalose 6-phosphate pathway impacts on Flowering Locus C (FLC). Photo: Gramma, Olas, and Zacharaki et al. (2024), Plant Physiology, Fig. 1C.
