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journal article May 01, 2003

Analysis of the ArabidopsisMADS AFFECTING FLOWERINGGene Family:MAF2Prevents Vernalization by Short Periods of Cold [W]

Oliver J. Ratcliffe Roderick W. Kumimoto Becky J. Wong ORCID José Luis Riechmann
The Plant Cell Vol. 15 No. 5 pp. 1159-1169 · Oxford University Press (OUP)
View at Publisher Save 10.1105/tpc.009506
Abstract
AbstractThe Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) gene is a key floral repressor in the maintenance of a vernalization response. In vernalization-sensitive genetic backgrounds, FLC levels are high, and they decline after exposure to long cold periods. Four FLC paralogs (MAF2 [MADS AFFECTING FLOWERING2] to MAF5) are arranged in a tandem array on the bottom of Arabidopsis chromosome V. We used a reverse genetics approach to analyze their functions. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies indicate that MAF2 acts as a floral repressor. In particular, maf2 mutant plants display a pronounced vernalization response when subjected to relatively short cold periods, which are insufficient to elicit a strong flowering response in the wild type, despite producing a large reduction in FLC levels. MAF2 expression is less sensitive to vernalization than that of FLC, and its repressor activity is exerted independently or downstream of FLC transcription. Thus, MAF2 can prevent premature vernalization in response to brief cold spells. Overexpression of MAF3 or MAF4 produces alterations in flowering time that suggest that these genes also act as floral repressors and might contribute to the maintenance of a vernalization requirement. However, the final gene in the cluster, MAF5, is upregulated by vernalization. Therefore, MAF5 could play an opposite role to FLC in the vernalization response.
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289
Citations
49
References
Details
Published
May 01, 2003
Vol/Issue
15(5)
Pages
1159-1169
License
View
Authors
O
Oliver J. Ratcliffe

Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., Hayward, California 94545

R
Roderick W. Kumimoto

Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., Hayward, California 94545

B
Becky J. Wong

Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., Hayward, California 94545

J
José Luis Riechmann
Cite This Article
Oliver J. Ratcliffe, Roderick W. Kumimoto, Becky J. Wong, et al. (2003). Analysis of the ArabidopsisMADS AFFECTING FLOWERINGGene Family:MAF2Prevents Vernalization by Short Periods of Cold [W]. The Plant Cell, 15(5), 1159-1169. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.009506
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