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

Abstract

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.

Transcriptome analysis provides insights into wood formation during larch tree aging

“…In studies of the molecular mechanisms of tree aging, many age-related genes have been identified (Busov et al 2004;Carlsbecker et al 2004;Diego et al 2004;Fernández-Ocaña et al 2010;García-López et al 2014;Hutchison et al 1990;Li et al 2010Xu et al 2016;Zhang et al 2016), such as miR156 (Wang et al 2011b) and Flowering Locus T (Böhlenius et al 2006;Hsu et al 2006Hsu et al , 2011, and some have been used to change the agronomic traits of plants (Flachowsky et al 2012;Kotoda et al 2006;Li et al 2013a;Yamagishi et al 2014). Larix kaempferi is a forest tree of important ecological and economic value, widely grown in the Northern Hemisphere, but its genome has not been sequenced.…”

Relationship between MdMADS11 Gene Expression and Juvenility in Apple

“…Juvenility genes are mostly located upstream of these genes that directly control flowering. Carlsbecker et al (2004) reported that DAL1 is related to juvenility in the conifer Norway spruce. DAL1 is considered to be the conifer homolog of Arabidopsis AGAMOUS-LIKE6 (AGL6).…”

Aislamiento y caracterización de genes MADS-box en Medicago truncatula: duplicaciones génicas y subfuncionalización en el linaje euAGAMOUS

“…La función de los genes del clado AGL6 en Arabidopsis thaliana (AGL6 y AGL13) no se ha demostrado, pero tanto estos como otros genes relacionados en otras especies se expresan en órganos florales y óvulos Immink et al, 2003) y pueden influir en la floración al ser expresados ectópicamente (Carlsbecker et al, 2004).…”

“…MtAGL6, al igual que su ortólogo PsMADS5 (Ferrándiz, 1996), tiene expresión específica en flor, un patrón de expresión común para los genes tipo AGL6 (Ma et al, 1991;Mouradov et al, 1998;Boss et al, 2002;Mena et al, 1995;Petersen et al, 2004;Hsu et al, 2003;Moon et al, 1999;Carlsbecker et al, 2004;Fan et al, 2007). Este patrón de expresión específico, sugiere que juega un papel primario en el desarrollo de los órganos florales.…”

“…Este tipo de expresión de los genes de tipo AGL6 se ha asociado con una función en la identidad del meristemo floral (Carlsbecker et al, 2004;Thompson et al, 2009;Ohmori et al, 2009;Melzer et al, 2010), así como con funciones de intermediarios en las interacciones de genes meristemáticos con genes de identidad de órgano floral (Fan et al, 1997(Fan et al, , 2007Moon et al, 1999;Favaro et al, 2002;Cooper et al, 2003;Hsu et al, 2003;de Folter et al, 2005;Ohmori et al, 2009). …”