title: Environmental and genetic interactions reveal FLOWERING LOCUS C as a modulator of the natural variation for the plasticity of flowering in Arabidopsis.
abstract: The timing of flowering initiation depends strongly on the environment, a property termed as the plasticity of flowering. Such plasticity determines the adaptive potential of plants because it provides phenotypic buffer against environmental changes, and its natural variation contributes to evolutionary adaptation. We addressed the genetic mechanisms of the natural variation for this plasticity in Arabidopsis thaliana by analysing a population of recombinant inbred lines derived from Don-0 and Ler accessions collected from distinct climates. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in four environmental conditions differing in photoperiod, vernalization treatment and ambient temperature detected the folllowing: (i) FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) as a large effect QTL affecting flowering time differentially in all environments; (ii) numerous QTL displaying smaller effects specifically in some conditions; and (iii) significant genetic interactions between FLC and other loci. Hence, the variation for the plasticity of flowering is determined by a combination of environmentally sensitive and specific QTL, and epistasis. Analysis of FLC from Don identified a new and more active allele likely caused by a cis-regulatory deletion covering the non-coding RNA COLDAIR. Further characterization of four FLC natural alleles showed different environmental and genetic interactions. Thus, FLC appears as a major modulator of the natural variation for the plasticity of flowering to multiple environmental factors.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética Molecular de Plantas, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, 28049, Spain.
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Méndez-Vigo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética Molecular de Plantas, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, 28049, Spain.
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savic
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética Molecular de Plantas, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, 28049, Spain.
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ausín
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética Molecular de Plantas, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, 28049, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética Molecular de Plantas, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, 28049, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología Integrativa, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), Sevilla, 41092, Spain.
authors.forename: F Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Picó
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética Molecular de Plantas, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, 28049, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alonso-Blanco
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D060146:Ecotype; D004777:Environment; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D007178:Inbreeding; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C418902:At5g10140 protein, Arabidopsis; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins
keywords: epistasis; genotype by environment interaction; phenotypic plasticity; photoperiod; temperature; vernalization