Maturity2, a novel regulator of flowering time in Sorghum bicolor, increases expression of SbPRR37 and SbCO in long days delaying flowering.

ABSTRACT: Sorghum bicolor is a drought-resilient facultative short-day C4 grass that is grown for grain, forage, and biomass. Adaptation of sorghum for grain production in temperate regions resulted in the selection of mutations in Maturity loci (Ma1 -Ma6) that reduced photoperiod sensitivity and resulted in earlier flowering in long days. Prior studies identified the genes associated with Ma1 (PRR37), Ma3 (PHYB), Ma5 (PHYC) and Ma6 (GHD7) and characterized their role in the flowering time regulatory pathway. The current study focused on understanding the function and identity of Ma2. Ma2 delayed flowering in long days by selectively enhancing the expression of SbPRR37 (Ma1) and SbCO, genes that co-repress the expression of SbCN12, a source of florigen. Genetic analysis identified epistatic interact

SUBMITTER: Casto AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6457528 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature