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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2018

GIGANTEA-like genes control seasonal growth cessation in Populus

Ding, Jihua; Bohlenius, Henrik; Ruhl, Mark Georg; Chen, Peng; Sane, Shashank; Zambrano, Jose A.; Zheng, Bo; Eriksson, Maria E.; Nilsson, Ove

Abstract

Survival of trees growing in temperate zones requires cycling between active growth and dormancy. This involves growth cessation in the autumn triggered by a photoperiod shorter than the critical day length.Variations in GIGANTEA (GI)-like genes have been associated with phenology in a range of different tree species, but characterization of the functions of these genes in the process is still lacking.We describe the identification of the Populus orthologs of GI and their critical role in short-day-induced growth cessation. Using ectopic expression and silencing, gene expression analysis, protein interaction and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments, we show that PttGIs are likely to act in a complex with PttFKF1s (FLAVIN-BINDING, KELCH REPEAT, F-BOX 1) and PttCDFs (CYCLING DOF FACTOR) to control the expression of PttFT2, the key gene regulating short-day-induced growth cessation in Populus.In contrast to Arabidopsis, in which the GI-CONSTANS (CO)-FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) regulon is a crucial day-length sensor for flowering time, our study suggests that, in Populus, PttCO-independent regulation of PttFT2 by PttGI is more important in the photoperiodic control of growth cessation and bud set.

Keywords

FLOWERING LOCUS (FT); GIGANTEA (GI); growth cessation; photoperiod; Populus

Published in

New Phytologist
2018, volume: 218, number: 4, pages: 1491-1503
Publisher: WILEY

Authors' information

Ding, Jihua
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre
Rühl, Mark
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology
Chen, Peng
Huazhong Agricultural University
Sane, Shashank
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology
Zambrano, José Alfredo
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology
Zheng, Bo
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology
Eriksson, Maria E.
Umeå University
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology

UKÄ Subject classification

Botany

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15087

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/95994