Genome-wide analysis of poplar NF-YB gene family and identified PtNF-YB1 important in regulate flowering timing in transgenic plants

Abstract

Background: Compared with annual herbaceous plants, woody perennials require a longer period of juvenile phase to flowering, and many traits can be only expressed in adulthood, which seriously makes the breeding efficiency of new varieties slower. For the study of poplar early flowering, the main focus is on the study Arabidopsis homologue gene CO/FT. Based on studies of Arabidopsis, rice and other plant species, some important research progress has been made on the regulation of flowering time by NF-Y subunits. However, little is known about the function of NF-Y regulating flowering in poplar. Results: In the present study, we have identified PtNF-YB family members in poplar and focus on the function of the PtNF-YB1 regulate flowering timing using transgenic Arabidopsis and tomato. To understand this mechanisms, the expression levels of three known flowering genes (CO, FT and SOC1) were examined with RT-PCR in transgenic Arabidopsis. We used the Y2H and BiFC to assay the interactions between PtNF-YB1 and PtCO (PtCO1 and PtCO2) proteins. Finally, the potential molecular mechanism model in which PtNF-YB1 play a role in regulating flowering in poplar was discussed. Conclusions: In this study, we have characterized the poplar NF-YB gene family and confirmed the function of the PtNF-YB1 regulate flowering timing. At the same time, we found that the function of PtNF-YB1 to improve early flowering can overcome species barriers. Therefore, PtNF-YB1 can be used as a potential candidate gene to improve early flowering by genetic transformation in poplar and other crops.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of NF-Y gene family in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

“…They may be involved in the flowering process of tobacco and need further study. In addition, ZmNF-YC2 and PtNF-YB1 have also been identified to play a role in flowering regulation in maize and poplar 41 , 42 . Studies have shown that OsNF-YB2/B3/B4 affects chloroplast biosynthesis 43 , and the orthologous gene NtNF-YB30 of OsNF-YB3 may be a candidate gene involved in chloroplast synthesis (Fig.…”

Genome-Wide Identification and Chilling Stress Analysis of the NF-Y Gene Family in Melon

“…Increasing evidence has shown that NF-Y is involved in regulating the flowering of plants, such as AtNFY-B2/B3/C2/C3/C4/C9 [ 44 , 45 ], PtNF-YB1 [ 46 ], and ZmNF-YA3/C2 [ 47 ]. Intriguingly, most of the genes were highly expressed in melon female and male flowers, or reached the peak value, such as CmNF-YA4/A5 , CmNF-YB4/B5/B6/B10, and CmNF-YC1/C2/C3/C7/C8 ( Figure 7 a), implying that these genes might regulate the flowering of melon.…”

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

“…Compared with annual plants, most woody plants need a longer juvenile period before entering the flowering period, and many traits can only be expressed after reaching maturity. However, economic forests and timber forests have the problems of long a juvenile period and late flowering, which seriously limit the improvement of their economic benefits and production development, as well as their breeding process [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Therefore, promoting early flowering, shortening the juvenile period, and accelerating the breeding cycle of trees are of great significance to the development of forestry science and the study of the molecular mechanisms of plant sexual reproduction.…”

“…However, little is known about the poplar NF-Y gene in flowering. In recent years, studies have shown that overexpression of poplar PtNF-YB2 in Arabidopsis and tomato can induce earlier flowering [ 3 ], and overexpression of PtNF-YA9 can delay flowering in Arabidopsis [ 29 ]. However, research on the flowering of poplar NF-YC is lacking.…”