title: Molecular cloning and function analysis of ClCRY1a and ClCRY1b, two genes in Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium that play vital roles in promoting floral transition.
abstract: Cryptochrome (CRY), a vital photoreceptor which mediates light signals, controls photomorphogenesis in higher plants. However, the function of CRY in mediating light to regulate growth and development of ornamental plants is still unclear. In this study, we identified two CRY1 homologous genes, ClCRY1a and ClCRY1b, from Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium, a diploid wild chrysanthemum species. Expression analysis demonstrated that these two ClCRY1 genes showed the highest expression levels in seedlings leaves that were transferred to short day (SD) conditions for eight days. ClCRY1a was expressed at a higher level in the dark phase of SD, while ClCRY1b was expressed more highly in SD than that in long day (LD) conditions. Overexpression of either ClCRY1a or ClCRY1b in wild-type (WT) Arabidopsis resulted in early flowering under both LD and SD. The expression levels of GIGANTEA (GI) and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) were significantly up-regulated in ClCRY1a overexpressors under both LD and SD. Moreover, the transcript levels of GI, CONSTANS (CO) and FT were markedly increased in ClCRY1b overexpressors under LD; nevertheless, only the expression levels of CO and FT were up-regulated under SD. Taken together, the above results indicated that these two ClCRY1 genes could regulate flowering time via different pathways in C. lavandulifolium under LD and SD conditions. Our results provided evidence for the role of ClCRY1s in controlling photomorphogenesis and laid a foundation for further study on the molecular mechanism of ClCRYs mediating light signals to control floral transition.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment and College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: Liwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment and College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment and College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment and College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment and College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment and College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China. Electronic address: silandai@sina.com.
authors.forename: Silan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics; D031202:Chrysanthemum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D056931:Cryptochromes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013472:Sunlight
chemical_list: D056931:Cryptochromes
keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium; Cryptochrome; Floral transition; Function analysis