Abstract
Apple flowering genes AFL, MdFT and MdTFL1, which are orthologues of LEAFY, FT and TFL1 from Arabidopsis respectively, has been detected the relation between the expression traits and the flowering. At the former meeting (49th; Sapporo), the MdFT gene was not induced at the flowering initiation and expressed at a meristem at anytime. The transgenic apple overexpressed with MdFT showed early flowering within several months after transformation. The expression level of MdFT was relative to the flower setting. The transgenic apples keep setting one to two flowers per month. This suggested the MdFT involved in the flower induction. The induced flowers often had increased petals and short of carpels. The MdFT transgenic shoots grafted on rootstock had same flowers. Some ornamental apple cultivar had same flowers as the transgenic apple. Six cultivars expressed much higher MdFT than normal apple. This strongly suggested the MdFT effected the flower formation of apple.
