Cytokinin response factor LcARR11 promotes floral bud physiological differentiation by activating LcIPT3 and LcFT1 in litchi
Cytokinins play crucial roles in regulating the flower bud differentiation in fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanisms by which cytokinins promote flowering in plants are largely unknown. The litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a typical subtropical fruit tree that suffers from severe alternate fruiting due to unstable flowering. Here, we developed a novel alternate-fruiting management, which can ensure 100% flowering of the on-year trees, while the off-year trees hardly flower at all. The abundance of two types of cytokinins (tZR, iPR) and LcFT1 expression in the leaves of on-year trees were continuously increased throughout the period of floral bud physiological differentiation. In contrast, these corresponding indicators in off-year trees were maintained at a significantly lower level.