Control of the first flowering in forest trees

Chalupka, W.; Cecich, Robert A.

doi:10.1080/02827589709355390

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The only changing variables from the juvenile to the reproductive developmental stage are chronological age and the size of the trees. One hypothesis is that the tree develops the capacity for the first-time flowering as a result of either attaining a certain size or undergoing a certain number of cycles of growth and dormancy (Chalupka and Cecich, 1997). Evidence from birch (Betula verrucosa) supports the former factor (Longman and Wareing, 1959).…”

Section: First-time Flower Initiation In Poplarmentioning

confidence: 99%

PoplarFT2Shortens the Juvenile Phase and Promotes Seasonal Flowering

et al. 2006

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Many woody perennials, such as poplar (Populus deltoides), are not able to form flower buds during the first several years of their life cycle. They must undergo a transition from the juvenile phase to the reproductive phase to be competent to produce flower buds. After this transition, trees begin to form flower buds in the spring of each growing season. The genetic factors that control flower initiation, ending the juvenile phase, are unknown in poplar. The factors that regulate seasonal flower bud formation are also unknown. Here, we report that poplar FLOWERING LOCUS T2 (FT2), a relative of the Arabidopsis thaliana flowering-time gene FT, controls first-time and seasonal flowering in poplar. The FT2 transcript is rare during the juvenile phase of poplar. When juvenile poplar is transformed with FT2 and transcript levels are increased, flowering is induced within 1 year. During the transition between vegetative and reproductive growth in mature trees, FT2 transcripts are abundant during reproductive growth under long days. Subsequently, floral meristems emerge on flanks of the axillary inflorescence shoots. These findings suggest that FT2 is part of the flower initiation pathway in poplar and plays an additional role in regulating seasonal flower initiation that is integrated with the poplar perennial growth habit.

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Section: First-time Flower Initiation In Poplarmentioning

confidence: 99%

PoplarFT2Shortens the Juvenile Phase and Promotes Seasonal Flowering

et al. 2006

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“…Likewise, for forest trees, traits related to wood quality generally require several years before accurate selection is possible. Fortunately, for some species and varieties, there are effective conventional treatments that can help to accelerate onset of flowering (Longman and Wareing 1959, Chalupka and Cecich 1997). However, these often still a few several years, or are ineffective in specific taxa or genotypes.…”

Section: Limitations Of Conventional Tree Breeding Programmesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review on transgenic approaches to accelerate breeding of woody plants

et al. 2009

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The long juvenile period of trees delays the breeding of new varieties. Flowering begins within 5-10 years in most cultivated forest trees under intensive management, but can take up to 40 years in some species and environmental conditions. To accelerate the breeding process several agrotechnical and biotechnical methods have been developed. Knowledge about genes controlling flower initiation in model plants like Arabidopsis thaliana, and identification of homologous genes in trees, have led to new possibilities for early-flower induction. Overexpression of MADS-box and other floral regulatory genes resulted in early flowering in some tree species and/or varieties. However, these methods have not yet been shown to enable the production of fertile, viable or normal gametes and progeny; developmental research towards these ends is therefore of high priority. A breeding scheme has been developed to use early flowering trees for the introduction of genes from wild species that would allow several backcrosses to occur in only a few years, and to produce at the end a non-transgenic improved variety. Research to develop practical early flowering methods could lead to several new methods for breeding and biotechnology.

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“…As many woody plants pass through several growth seasons before reproducing, the juvenile phase may be very long. In the conifer Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) it lasts 20–25 years or even longer (Chalupka and Cecich, 1997). During this time various traits change with age, and also with position along the stem of the tree (Greenwood, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The MADS‐box gene DAL1 is a potential mediator of the juvenile‐to‐adult transition in Norway spruce (Picea abies)

Carlsbecker¹,

Tandre²,

Johanson³

et al. 2004

The Plant Journal

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SummaryProgression through the plant life cycle involves change in many essential features, most notably in the capacity to reproduce. The transition from a juvenile vegetative and non-reproductive to an adult reproductive phase is gradual and can take many years; in the conifer Norway spruce, Picea abies, typically 20-25 years. We present a detailed analysis of the activities of three regulatory genes with potential roles in this transition in Norway spruce: DAL1, a MADS-box gene related to the AGL6 group of genes from angiosperms, and the two LEAFY-related genes PaLFY and PaNLY. DAL1 activity is initiated in the shoots of juvenile trees at an age of 3-5 years, and then increases with age, whereas both LFY genes are active throughout the juvenile phase. The activity of DAL1 further shows a spatial pattern along the stem of the tree that parallels a similar gradient in physiological and morphological features associated with maturation to the adult phase. Constitutive expression of DAL1 in transgenic Arabidopsis plants caused a dramatic attenuation of both juvenile and adult growth phases; flowers forming immediately after the embryonic phase of development in severely affected plants. Taken together, our results support the notion that DAL1 may have a regulatory role in the juvenileto-adult transition in Norway spruce.

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Control of the first flowering in forest trees

Cited by 20 publications

References 51 publications

PoplarFT2Shortens the Juvenile Phase and Promotes Seasonal Flowering

PoplarFT2Shortens the Juvenile Phase and Promotes Seasonal Flowering

A review on transgenic approaches to accelerate breeding of woody plants

The MADS‐box gene DAL1 is a potential mediator of the juvenile‐to‐adult transition in Norway spruce (Picea abies)

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