Comprehensive Analyses of Four PtoNF-YC Genes from Populus tomentosa and Impacts on Flowering Timing

Abstract

Flowering is an important link in the life process of angiosperms, and it is also an important sign of the transformation of plants from vegetative to reproductive growth. Although the flowering regulation network of Arabidopsis is well-understood, there has been little research on the molecular mechanisms of perennial woody plant flower development regulation. Populus tomentosa is a unique Chinese poplar species with fast growth, strong ecological adaptability, and a long lifecycle. However, it has a long juvenile phase, which seriously affects its breeding process. Nuclear factor-Y (NF-Y) is an important type of transcription factor involved in the regulation of plant flowering. However, there are few reports on PtoNF-Y gene flowering regulation, and the members of the PtNF-YC subfamily are unknown. In this study, four key genes were cloned and analyzed for sequence characteristics, gene structure, genetic evolution, expression patterns, and subcellular localization. The plant expression vector was further constructed, and transgenic Arabidopsis and P. tomentosa plants were obtained through genetic transformation and a series of molecular tests. The flowering time and other growth characteristics were analyzed. Finally, the expression level of flowering genes was detected by quantitative PCR, the interaction between PtoNF-YC and PtoCOL proteins was measured using the yeast two-hybrid system to further explain the flowering regulation mechanism, and the molecular mechanisms by which PtNF-YC6 and PtNF-YC8 regulate poplar flowering were discussed. These results lay the foundation for elucidating the molecular regulation mechanism of PtoNF-YC in flowering and furthering the molecular design and breeding of poplar, while providing a reference for other flowering woody plants.

Expression patterns of the poplar NF-Y gene family in response to Alternaria alternata and hormone treatment and the role of PdbNF-YA11 in disease resistance

“…As a transcription factor (TF) that regulates plant growth and stress resistance, the NF-Y has been identified and studied in multiple plants. There were 36 NF-Ys in A. thaliana (Siefers et al, 2009), 25 NF-Ys in Ricinus communi (Wang et al, 2018), 59 NF-Ys in Solanum lycopersicum , 32 NF-Ys in Vitis vinifera (Ren et al, 2016), 33 NF-Ys in Juglans regia (Quan et al, 2018), 24 NF-Ys in peach (Li et al, 2019), 28 NF-Ys in Pinus tabuliformis (Guo et al, 2020), 52 NF-Ys in P. trichocarpa (Liu et al, 2021), and 46 NF-Ys in P. tomentosa (Li et al, 2022). In this study, a total of 26 NF-Y members were cloned in P. davidiana × P. bollena, including 12 PdbNF-YAs, six PdbNF-YBs, and eight PdbNF-YCs (Table 1, Supplementary Figure S1).…”

Genome-Wide Characterization of Chrysanthemum indicum Nuclear Factor Y, Subunit C Gene Family Reveals the Roles of CiNF-YCs in Flowering Regulation

“…It was first reported in Arabidopsis that NF-YC played a critical role in the photoperiodic pathway by interacting directly with CONSTANS (CO) [ 20 , 22 ]. Subsequently, the involvement of NF-YC in the photoperiodic flowering response was reported in rice [ 21 ], maize [ 25 ], poplar [ 23 ], and other plants. Recent studies have shown that the regulation of flowering by NF-Y family members may also be related to the GA and age pathway [ 7 , 25 ].…”

“…Nuclear Factor Y, Subunit C (NF-YC), also known as Histone-Associated Protein 5 (HAP5) or CCAAT Binding Factor C (CBF-C), is a subunit of NF-Y trimers [ 19 ]. The NF-YC gene family is considered to participate in flowering time regulation [ 7 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. In Arabidopsis , NF–YC3, NF–YC4, and NF–YC9 have high amino acid identity.…”

The Potential of Poplars (Populus L.) for the Sustainable Environment of Cities

“…The research from databases indicate, that the use of poplar species in urban greenery initiatives, including e.g. P. tomentosa, P.s alba 'Berolinensis', and P. nigra, is driven by their rapid growth, strong adaptability, and tolerance to environmental stressors [121,122,123]. These species are favored for their ability to thrive in diverse urban settings, offering benefits such as flood tolerance and resilience to adverse conditions [124,125].…”

“…Populus tomentosa exhibits rapid growth and ecological adaptability, making it ideal for establishing greenery in urban areas [121]. Similarly, the hybrid triploid P. alba 'Berolinensis' demonstrates fast growth and high stress tolerance, suitable for urban forestry [122].…”