High Expression of BcERF98 Delays Flowering in Chinese Cabbage

Jim Crocker
11th July, 2024

High Expression of BcERF98 Delays Flowering in Chinese Cabbage

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Nanjing Agricultural University studied how the transcription factor BcERF98 affects flowering time in non-heading Chinese cabbage (NHCC)
  • BcERF98 responds to ethylene signaling and delays flowering by inhibiting the BcFT gene
  • BcERF98 interacts with proteins BcEIP9 and BcNF-YA2 to regulate this delay, providing insights for agricultural practices
Understanding how plants regulate their flowering time is crucial for agriculture, especially in the face of environmental stresses. Recent research from Nanjing Agricultural University has shed light on this topic by examining a specific transcription factor, BcERF98, in non-heading Chinese cabbage (NHCC)[1]. This study builds on previous findings and offers new insights into the role of ethylene—a plant hormone—in delaying flowering. Ethylene is known to be involved in various plant processes, including stress responses and developmental changes. Previous studies have shown that ethylene can delay flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana by reducing levels of gibberellin (GA), a hormone that promotes growth and flowering[2]. This delay is mediated through the accumulation of DELLA proteins, which are growth repressors. Ethylene signaling, through the CTR1/EIN3 pathway, enhances DELLA accumulation, thereby repressing genes essential for floral initiation such as LEAFY (LFY) and SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1)[2]. The current study focuses on BcERF98, a homolog of AtERF98, and its role in ethylene-mediated flowering regulation in NHCC. BcERF98 is a transcription factor that is highly responsive to ethylene signaling and localizes to the nucleus and cell membrane. The researchers found that BcERF98 inhibits the expression of BcFT, a gene crucial for flowering time regulation, by interacting with other proteins such as BcEIP9 and BcNF-YA2. This interaction effectively delays flowering, providing a mechanism for how ethylene can modulate developmental timing in response to environmental stresses. The study's findings align with previous research on ERF family transcription factors, which are known to play critical roles in plant stress responses[3]. For instance, ERF96 has been shown to enhance resistance to necrotrophic pathogens by activating defense-related genes[3]. Similarly, ERF1 has been identified as a negative regulator of flowering by repressing the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene in Arabidopsis[4]. The current study adds to this body of knowledge by identifying BcERF98's specific role in NHCC, thus expanding our understanding of ethylene's broader regulatory network. The methodology used in this study involved several key techniques. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were employed to determine the binding of BcERF98 to the BcFT gene. This approach is similar to the one used in earlier studies to show how ERF1 binds to FT in Arabidopsis[4]. Additionally, protein interaction assays were conducted to identify the interaction partners of BcERF98, namely BcEIP9 and BcNF-YA2. These interactions were crucial for understanding how BcERF98 inhibits BcFT expression and delays flowering. The implications of this research are significant for agricultural practices. By understanding the molecular mechanisms that control flowering time, scientists can develop strategies to cultivate crops with desirable flowering traits. For NHCC, this could mean breeding varieties that flower at specific times to optimize yield and stress resistance. In summary, the study from Nanjing Agricultural University highlights the role of BcERF98 in ethylene-mediated flowering regulation in NHCC. By interacting with BcEIP9 and BcNF-YA2, BcERF98 inhibits the expression of BcFT, thereby delaying flowering. This research not only enriches our theoretical knowledge of flowering regulation but also provides practical insights for agricultural innovation.

AgricultureGeneticsPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) High expression of ethylene response factor BcERF98 delays the flowering time of non-heading Chinese cabbage.

Published 11th July, 2024

Journal: Planta

Issue: Vol 260, Issue 2, Jul 2024

Related Studies

2) The plant stress hormone ethylene controls floral transition via DELLA-dependent regulation of floral meristem-identity genes.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Issue: Vol 104, Issue 15, Apr 2007

3) ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 96 positively regulates Arabidopsis resistance to necrotrophic pathogens by direct binding to GCC elements of jasmonate - and ethylene-responsive defence genes.

https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.12583

4) ERF1 delays flowering through direct inhibition of FLOWERING LOCUS T expression in Arabidopsis.

https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.13144


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