Abstract
Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis has become serious a social problem. Biotechnological control of flowering is expected as a means for regulating pollen dispersal of C. japonica. We have reported that the twelve MADS-box genes were isolated from C. japonica, and they were classified into six clades. To determine the effect of MADS-box genes of C. japonica on flowering time, six kinds of MADS-box genes were transformed into Arabidopsis. Two kinds of six transgenic Arabidopsis lines flowered earlier than wild type plants. They were transformed by CjSOC1and CjAGL6 belonged to the SOC1 clade and AGL6 clade, respectively. Expression analysis of theses two genes in transgenic Arabidopsis indicated that transformants expressing exogenous genes at high level flowered earlier than those at low level. We examined the change of expression of CjSOC1 and CjAGL6 in shoots of C. japonica treated with gibberellin to induce bud formation artificially. Expression of CjSOC1 increased within a week after treatment, while that of CjAGL6 increased after one month of treatment. Our results suggested that CjSOC1 and CjAGL6 could function to promote flowering in C. japonica.
