The Arabidopsis Floral Repressor BFT Delays Flowering by Competing with FT for FD Binding under High Salinity
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Soil salinity is one of the most serious agricultural problems that significantly reduce crop yields in the arid and semi-arid regions. It influences various phases of plant growth and developmental processes, such as seed germination, leaf and stem growth, and reproductive propagation. Salt stress delays the onset of flowering in many plant species. We have previously reported that the Arabidopsis BROTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (BFT) acts as a floral repressor under salt stress. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the BFT function in the salt regulation of flowering induction is unknown. In this work, we found that BFT delays flowering under high salinity by competing with FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) for binding to the FD transcription factor. The flowering time of FD-deficient fd-2 mutant was insensitive to high salinity. BFT interacts with FD in the nucleus via the C-terminal domain of FD, which is also required for the interaction of FD with FT, and interferes with the FT–FD interaction. These observations indicate that BFT constitutes a distinct salt stress signaling pathway that modulates the function of the FT–FD module and possibly provides an adaptation strategy that fine-tunes photoperiodic flowering under high salinity. SUMMARY Under high salinity, the floral repressor BFT competes with FT for FD binding and thus interferes with the FT–FD function, resulting in delayed flowering. The BFT-mediated salt stress signaling scheme provides an adaptation strategy by fine-tuning photoperiodic flowering under high salinity.
Source: Molecular Plant
DOI: 10.1093/mp/sst114
Authors: Jae Yong Ryu, Hyo-Jun Lee, Pil Joon Seo, Jae-Hoon Jung, Ji Hoon Ahn, Chung-Mo Park
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,000
OpenAlex ID: W1552519429