Natural haplotypes of FLM non-coding sequences fine-tune flowering time in ambient spring temperatures in Arabidosis

作者：Lutz Ulrich; Nus**aumer Thomas; Spannagl Manuel; Diener Julia; Mayer Klaus F X; Schwechheimer Claus

来源：eLife, 2017, 6: e22114.

DOI：10.7554/eLife.22114

Cool ambient temperatures are major cues determining flowering time in spring. The mechanisms promoting or delaying flowering in response to ambient temperature changes are only beginning to be understood. In Arabidopsis thaliana, FLOWERING LOCUS M (FLM) regulates flowering in the ambient temperature range and FLM is transcribed and alternatively spliced in a temperature-dependent manner. We identify polymorphic promoter and intronic sequences required for FLM expression and splicing. In transgenic experiments covering 69% of the available sequence variation in two distinct sites, we show that variation in the abundance of the FLM-beta splice form strictly correlate (R-2 = 0.94) with flowering time over an extended vegetative period. The FLM polymorphisms lead to changes in FLM expression (PRO2+) but may also affect FLM intron 1 splicing (INT6+). This information could serve to buffer the anticipated negative effects on agricultural systems and flowering that may occur during climate change.

• 出版日期2017-3-15