Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Sci. Signal., 12 February 2013
Vol. 6, Issue 262, p. ec44
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2004048]

EDITORS' CHOICE

Botany Sweet Enough to Flower

Pamela J. Hines

Science Signaling, AAAS, Washington, DC 20005, USA

In making the developmental switch from vegetative growth to flowering, plants integrate diverse information, including photoperiod, hormone signals, and carbohydrate status. Wahl et al. (see the Perspective by Danielson and Frommer) analyzed the physiology of the signaling sugar trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) in Arabidopsis. Quantities of T6P cycle in daily rhythms that peak toward the end of the day. T6P levels in the shoot apical meristem mirrored sucrose levels. Disruption of T6P production also disrupted expression of the FLOWERING LOCUS T gene, which responds in leaves to day length and generates signals that direct the meristem to initiate flowering programs. T6P production also affected the signaling pathway that links the age of the plant to flowering. By incorporating requirements for T6P signaling in the flowering induction pathways, the plant ensures that adequate carbohydrate reserves have been accumulated. Thus, T6P regulates the shift to flowering by linking carbohydrate status to day length in the leaves and to developmental age in the shoot apical meristem.

V. Wahl, J. Ponnu, A. Schlereth, S. Arrivault, T. Langenecker, A. Franke, R. Feil, J. E. Lunn, M. Stitt, M. Schmid, Regulation of flowering by trehalose-6-phosphate signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana. Science 339, 704–707 (2013). [Abstract] [Full Text]

J. Å. H. Danielson, W. B. Frommer, Jack of all trades, master of flowering. Science 339, 659–660 (2013). [Abstract] [Full Text]

Citation: P. J. Hines, Sweet Enough to Flower. Sci. Signal. 6, ec44 (2013).

To Advertise     Find Products

Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (online), 1945-0877 (print). Pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882