Life-history QTLS and natural selection on flowering time in Boechera stricta, a perennial relative of Arabidopsis.

ABSTRACT: Plants must precisely time flowering to capitalize on favorable conditions. Although we know a great deal about the genetic basis of flowering phenology in model species under controlled conditions, the genetic architecture of this ecologically important trait is poorly understood in nonmodel organisms. Here, we evaluated the transition from vegetative growth to flowering in Boechera stricta, a perennial relative of Arabidopsis thaliana. We examined flowering time QTLs using 7920 recombinant inbred individuals, across seven laboratory and field environments differing in vernalization, temperature, and photoperiod. Genetic and environmental factors strongly influenced the transition to reproduction. We found directional selection for earlier flowering in the field. In the growth chamber exp

SUBMITTER: Anderson JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3155413 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature