Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Differentially Expressed Transcripts Associated with Flowering Time of Loquat (Eriobotya japonica Lindl.)

Flowering is an important phenophase of plant species, however, knowledge about the regulatory mechanism controlling flowering cues in loquat is limited. To identify candidate genes regulating flowering time in loquat, we used RNA-Seq technology to conduct a comparative transcriptome analysis of differentiating apical buds collected from the early-flowering variety ‘Baiyu’ and the late-flowering variety ‘Huoju’. A total of 28,842 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) were identified. Of these, 42 DETs controlled flowering time while 17 other DETs were associated with the ABA signaling pathway. Compared with those in ‘Huoju’, EjFT, EjFY, EjFLK, and EjCAL1-like were significantly upregulated in ‘Baiyu’. Moreover, transcripts of the ABA 8′-hydroxylases (EjABH2, EjABH4, and EjABH4-like2), the ABA receptors (EjPYL4/8), and the bZIP transcription factor EjABI5-like were upregulated in ‘Baiyu’ compared with ‘Huoju’. Hence, they might regulate loquat flowering time. There was no significant difference between ‘Baiyu’ and ‘Huoju’ in terms of IAA content. However, the ABA content was about ten-fold higher in the apical buds of ‘Baiyu’ than in those of ‘Huoju’. The ABA:IAA ratio sharply rose and attained a peak during bud differentiation. Thus, ABA is vital in regulating floral bud formation in loquat. The results of the present study help clarify gene transcription during loquat flowering.

KSN heterozygosity is associated with continuous flowering of Rosa rugosa Purple branch

Rose (Rosa spp.) plants flower via two contrasting methods: once flowering (OF) and continuous flowering (CF). Purple branch is a rare continuously flowering variety of Rosa rugosa that is extensively cultivated in China. However, the genetic basis of its CF behavior is unknown. We demonstrated that Purple branch is heterozygous for the TFL1 homolog KSN. One KSN allele with a 9 kb Copia insertion was found to be identical to that from continuously flowering Rosa chinensis Old blush. The other allele was found to be a functional wild-type allele. The overall expression of KSN was closely linked to the floral transition, and it was significantly repressed in continuously flowering Purple branch compared with OF Plena. The promoter region of the normal KSN allele was hypermethylated, and histone methylation at H3H4, H3K9, and H3K27 of the KSN gene locus was modified in continuously flowering Purple branch. Silencing of the DNA methyltransferase genes MET1 and CMT3 and the histone methyltransferase gene SUVR5 in Purple branch led to enhanced KSN expression, but silencing of the histone demethylase gene JMJ12 suppressed KSN expression. Therefore, the CF habit of Purple branch may be due to reduced expression of KSN caused by the halved dose and may be associated with epigenetic modifications together with retrotransposon insertions along the chromosome. Our study revealed a novel mechanism underlying the CF behavior of rose plants.

Comparison of different maturity period to increasing yield and quality of soyabean

Crop physiology is one of the important subjects to understand biological processes and functions. Through the science of crop physiology, it is possible to understand crop growth and development, components of plant yield, and their interactions.The Yukihomare is early flowering variety and takes about 35 days , Tachinagaha variety is medium flowering and takes 40 days, and Fukuyutaka variety is late flowering and takes 56 days from sowing respectively. Yukihomare variety is highest by 100 seed weight for soybean and its weight was measured as 34.2g. Tachinagaha variety is highest by total yield and harvested 1.62 t/ha. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjas.v11i2.223 Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.11(2) 2013 pp.79-82

1008 ANTHOCYANIN BIOSYNTHETIC GENES AND THEIR APPLICATION FOR FLOWER COLOR MODIFICATION

The biosynthetic pathway for anthocyanins has been studied using genetic, biochemical and molecular biological tools. In the past decade, the core pathway genes have been cloned; a number of genes which act to modify anthocyanin structure have been cloned more recently. The first results in color modification have been reduced flower color intensity using gene suppression methods. In particular, we have utilized chalcone synthase (CHS) and dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) genes and sense suppression in our experimental system, Petunia hybrida, and in the commercial crops, chrysan-themum (Dendranthema morifolium) and rose (Rosa hybrida). In petunia a range of new phenotypes was obtained; genetic stability of suppressed pheno-types will be described. In chrysanthemum a white-flowering derivative of a pink-flowering variety will be described. In rose uniform, partial reduction in pigment intensity throughout the flower was observed in over a dozen trans-genie derivatives of a red-flowering variety.

Prediction of Flowering Time in Olive for the Cordoba Olive Collection

The date of full bloom for olive (Olea europaea L.) tree varieties planted in the World Collection in Córdoba, Spain, has been determined from 10 years of data. The full bloom dates were analyzed using three methods to develop a model predicting flowering time. The method of heat units accumulated before flowering was the most accurate. The heat accumulation periods were determined from phenological and temperature data. Prediction methods were evaluated for the earliest-flowering variety, a model variety representing the mean values for the collection, and the latest-flowering variety. The most appropriate threshold temperature for heat accumulation has been confirmed to be 12.5C; it can be used to predict the flowering time in olive.

Yield and quality of triticale cultivars at progressive stages of maturity

SummaryTwo experiments were done in which the yield, digestibility and protein content of several autumnsown triticale cultivars were compared with rye and, on one occasion, ryegrass. Rye and an earlyflowering triticale cultivar (A208) had the highest early season yields and, at that stage, all cultivars and species had high digestibility.When harvesting was delayed, the yield of later flowering cultivars (A386 or the latest flowering variety, A876) was greatest. When the plots were cut and harvested again, the intermediate and late maturing varieties (e.g. A386, A876–10) gave the highest yields of digestible dry matter. It was concluded that there was no advantage in using a mixture of cultivars as in the commercially available ‘Trical’ and that the available cultivars offered farmers useful alternatives in harvesting strategy and breeders the opportunity to develop earlier high-yielding triticale cultivars.