RETRACTED: The mRNA of the Arabidopsis gene FT moves from leaf to shoot apex and induces flowering.
Day length controls flowering time in many plants. The day-length signal is perceived in the leaf, but how this signal is transduced to the shoot apex, where floral initiation occurs, is not known. In Arabidopsis, the day-length response depends on the induction of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene. We show here that local induction of FT in a single Arabidopsis leaf is sufficient to trigger flowering. The FT messenger RNA is transported to the shoot apex, where downstream genes are activated. These data suggest that the FT mRNA is an important component of the elusive "florigen" signal that moves from leaf to shoot apex.
Huang
Tao
T
Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-90183, Umeå, Sweden.
Böhlenius
Henrik
H
Eriksson
Sven
S
Parcy
François
F
Nilsson
Ove
O
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006358:Hot Temperature; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
C091535:AP1 protein, Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C092776:CONSTANS protein, Arabidopsis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C503117:FD protein, Arabidopsis; C418905:FT protein, Arabidopsis; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D014157:Transcription Factors