Analysis of the genes relate to the photoperiodic induction of flowering in Pharbitis(Ipomoea) nil

Abstract

We isolated genes to be involved in the photoperiodic induction of flowering in Pharbitis nil, an absolute short-day (SD) plant, which can be induced flower by one-shot of SD treatment. We studied the participation of genes encoding photoreceptors and components of the biological clock to the photoperiodic induction of flowering. We also studied the GI-CO-FT gene cascade that is largely conserved in Arabidopsis and Rice. Moreover, we compared the expression of these genes among strains and natural variations, namely, Kidachi, Tendan, Nepal and Africa that show different nature in the floral induction, and determined which genes are important for one-shot SD induction of flowering in P. nil.