title: Three FT and multiple CEN and BFT genes regulate maturity, flowering, and vegetative phenology in kiwifruit.
abstract: Kiwifruit is a woody perennial horticultural crop, characterized by excessive vegetative vigor, prolonged juvenility, and low productivity. To understand the molecular factors controlling flowering and winter dormancy, here we identify and characterize the kiwifruit PEBP (phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein) gene family. Five CEN-like and three BFT-like genes are differentially expressed and act as functionally conserved floral repressors, while two MFT-like genes have no impact on flowering time. FT-like genes are differentially expressed, with AcFT1 confined to shoot tip and AcFT2 to mature leaves. Both act as potent activators of flowering, but expression of AcFT2 in Arabidopsis resulted in a greater impact on plant morphology than that of AcFT1. Constitutive expression of either construct in kiwifruit promoted in vitro flowering, but AcFT2 displayed a greater flowering activation efficiency than AcFT1, leading to immediate floral transition and restriction of leaf development. Both leaf and flower differentiation were observed in AcFT1 kiwifruit lines. Sequential activation of specific PEBP genes in axillary shoot buds during growth and dormancy cycles indicated specific roles in regulation of kiwifruit vegetative and reproductive phenologies. AcCEN and AcCEN4 marked active growth, AcBFT2 was associated with suppression of latent bud growth during winter, and only AcFT was activated after cold accumulation and dormancy release.
authors.affiliation: The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research) Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Voogd
authors.affiliation: The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research) Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lara A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Brian
authors.affiliation: The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research) Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Tianchi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research) Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.|School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.affiliation: The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research) Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varkonyi-Gasic
mesh_terms: D029042:Actinidia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005810:Multigene Family; D049488:Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D049488:Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein; D010940:Plant Proteins
keywords: Actinidia chinensis; BFT; CEN; FT; development; dormancy; flowering; kiwifruit.