Elevated CO2 influences the expression of floral-initiation genes in Arabidopsis thaliana |
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Authors: | Springer Clint J Orozco Rebecca A Kelly John K Ward Joy K |
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Institution: | Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA |
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Abstract: | Atmospheric CO(2) concentration (CO(2)]) is rising on a global scale and is known to affect flowering time. Elevated CO(2)] may be as influential as temperature in determining future changes in plant developmental timing, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms that control altered flowering times at elevated CO(2)]. Using Arabidopsis thaliana, the expression patterns were compared of floral-initiation genes between a genotype that was selected for high fitness at elevated CO(2)] and a nonselected control genotype. The selected genotype exhibits pronounced delays in flowering time when grown at elevated CO(2)], whereas the control genotype is unaffected by elevated CO(2)]. Thus, this comparison provides an evolutionarily relevant system for gaining insight into the responses of plants to future increases in CO(2)]. Evidence is provided that elevated CO(2)] influences the expression of floral-initiation genes. In addition, it is shown that delayed flowering at elevated CO(2)] is associated with sustained expression of the floral repressor gene, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), in an elevated CO(2)-adapted genotype. Understanding the mechanisms that account for changes in plant developmental timing at elevated CO(2)] is critical for predicting the responses of plants to a high-CO(2) world of the near future. |
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Keywords: | FLC floral-initiation genes flowering time global change phenology selection |
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