Rootstock Affects Floral Induction in Citrus Engaging the Expression of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT)

In Citrus, flower induction represents the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. The regulation of flower induction is mainly triggered by exposure to low temperatures and water-deficit stress, which activates the signaling cascade leading to an increased expression of the citrus orthol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agriculture (Basel) 2021-02, Vol.11 (2), p.140
Main Authors: Bennici, Stefania, Las Casas, Giuseppina, Distefano, Gaetano, Gentile, Alessandra, Lana, Giuseppe, Di Guardo, Mario, Nicolosi, Elisabetta, La Malfa, Stefano, Continella, Alberto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Citroncirus webberi
Citrus fruits
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb
endogenous factor
Flowering
FLOWERING LOCUS T gene
Flowers
Food quality
Fruits
Gene expression
Loci
Low temperature
reproductive biology
Rootstocks
Seasonal variations
Trees
“C35” citrange
“Swingle” citrumelo
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Summary:In Citrus, flower induction represents the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. The regulation of flower induction is mainly triggered by exposure to low temperatures and water-deficit stress, which activates the signaling cascade leading to an increased expression of the citrus orthologs of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT). In this study, the relationship between rootstock and flower induction under Mediterranean field conditions was investigated by monitoring the expression levels of the floral promoter CiFT2 in leaves of the pigmented sweet orange “Tarocco Scirè” grafted onto “C35” citrange and “Swingle” citrumelo rootstocks. The latter two are known to confer, respectively, high and low yield efficiency to the scion. In both rootstock/scion combinations, CiFT2 showed a seasonal expression with a peak during the inductive period in January triggered by cold temperature. The “Tarocco Scirè”/”C35” citrange combination showed the highest expression levels for CiFT2; this increased expression was correlated with yield and a higher number of flowers in the following spring, suggesting a significant effect of rootstocks on flower induction mediated by the overexpression of the CiFT2 gene.
ISSN:2077-0472
2077-0472
DOI:10.3390/agriculture11020140