Skip to main content

Table 1 The detailed information of genes association with the wheat heading-flowering regulatory network

From: Gene regulatory network and abundant genetic variation play critical roles in heading stage of polyploidy wheat

Gene

Chromosomr. location

Protein product

Description

Functions

Mutant phenotype

Gene number in IWGSC1.0

Position in IWGSC1.0

References

Vrn1

5A, 5B, 5D

Encodes a MADS-box transcription factor, also named as WAP1 or TaVRT1

Induced by prolonged cold, long photoperiod

Not only promotes the apex transition to generative development, but also activation of long day response in leaves

Recessive alleles at all Vrn-1 homoeoloci confer a winter growth habit (vernalization sensitive), whereas one or more dominant alleles at Vrn-1 homoeoloci result in a spring growth habit (vernalization insensitive).

TraesCS5A01G391700, TraesCS5B01G396600, TraesCS5D01G401500.

5A:587423056–587,423,240, 5B:573815719–573,815,903, 5D:467184094–467,184,278.

[16, 22, 23]

Vrn2

5A

Encodes a protein containing a putative zinc finger and a CCT protein-protein interaction domain

Down-regulated when plants are vernalized

A dominant repressor of flowering

Functional mutations in the ZCCT genes result in a spring growth habit and early flowering

No

No

[17]

Vrn3

7B

Encodes a mobile protein, homologous to the Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)

Induced by vernalization and long days

Accelerates reproductive apex development

Transgenic wheat plants overexpressing Vrn-3B have an extra-early flowering phenotype without the need of vernalization

TraesCS7B01G013100

7B:9700818–9,704,363

[18]

Vrn4

5D

Encodes a MADS-box transcription factor highly similar to VRN1

VRN-D4 locus originated by the insertion of a large segment from chromosome arm 5AL into chromosome arm 5DS

Vrn-D4 likely operates upstream of the positive regulatory feedback loop connecting Vrn1, Vrn2 and Vrn3.

The mutation flowered later than plants carrying the wild type allele

No

No

[30, 31]

VER2

2D

Encodes a nucleocytoplasmic carbohydrate-binding protein, a jacalin-like lectin, with high affinity for glcnac and galactose

After vernalization, VER2 accumulates predominantly in the nucleus in shoot tips and young leaves

Nuclear-localized VER2 interacts with O-glcnac-modified TaGRP2 to relieve the repression on tavrn1 transcript accumulation and to promote flowering in hexaploid winter wheat

VER2 downregulated in winter wheat results in flowered later

No

No

[47, 50]

TaGRP2

No.

Glycine-rich RNA binding protein

TaGRP2 is dynamically O-glcnacylated during vernalization

TaGRP2 binds to the pre-mRNA of Vrn1 and inhibits Vrn1 expression

TaGRP2-Ri plants accelerated flowering compared with wild type

No

No

[50, 51]

TaVRT2

7A, 7B, 7D

Encodes a predicted protein of 226 amino acids, belongs to the StMADS 11

Accumulate in winter wheat during the vegetative phase and decline towards the transition to the reproductive phase.

The presence of Vrn2 and TaVRT-2 transcripts early during long time exposure could reduce or delay the expression of Vrn1

Mutation of TaVRT-2 results in the advance of flowering

No

No

[48]

TaGI

3A, 3B, 3D

Encodes a nucleoplasmically localized protein which contains 1174 amino acid residues

The patterns of TaGI rhythmic expression in leaves are regulated by circadian clocks, but can be disturbed by light/dark cycle

Functions in mediating photoperiodic flowering, controlling circadian rhythms and phytochrome signaling

Mutations in the TaGI gene cause delayed flowering only in long day photoperiod

TraesCS3A01G116300; TraesCS3B01G135400; TraesCS3D01G118200.

3A:84189859–84,191,364; 3B:117928502–117,930,007; 3D:71969619–71,970,784.

[63, 64]

WSOC1

4DL

Is a member of the monocot SOC1-like gene family

WSOC1 expression is affected neither by vernalization nor photoperiod, whereas it is induced by gibberellin at the seedling stage

WSOC1 functions as a flowering activator like SOC1 in Arabidopsis

Downregulated of WSOC1 results in delayed flowering

TraesCS4D01G341700

4D:498394464–498,398,154

[71]

WPCL1

No.

Encodes a MYB transcription factor belonging to the GARP family

Maybe regulated by circadian clock

Controlling the early flowering phenotype in the einkorn wheat mutant

Deletion of WPCL1 leads to flowering even under short-day conditions

No

No

[60, 61]

TaHD1

6A, 6B, 6D

Encodes a transcription factor with zinc finger motif and nuclear localization signals, also called CO2

Can regulated by long-day condition and circadian clock

Directly regulate vernalization gene under long-day condition

The co mutant show a delayed flowering response under long-day environment

TraesCS6A01G289400; TraesCS6B01G319500; TraesCS6D01G269500.

6A:521453035–521,453,945; 6B:567398838–567,399,457; 6D:379572052–379,572,962.

[44, 62]

TaPHYC

5A, 5B, 5D

No

Long-day induced wheat PHYC forms signaling active homodimers and translocate into the nucleus

Promotes wheat flowering under inductive photoperiods

The loss of function of wheat PHYC results in altered expression of circadian clock and photoperiod genes and a dramatic delay in flowering under long days

TraesCS5A01G391300; TraesCS5D01G401000; TraesCS5B01G396200.

5A:586595153–586,599,481; 5D:466221190–466,223,373; 5B:573216947–573,219,055

[60, 61]

Ppd1

2A, 2B, 2D

Encodes a pseudo-response regulator (PRR) protein with a CCT domain, also named taprr37

Induced by long-day

Can regulated vernalization genes and participate in circadian clock function

Knockdown of Ppd1 made the wheat delayed flowering

TraesCS2A01G081900; TraesCS2D01G079600

2A:36936362–36,938,400; 2D:33952488–33,955,629.

[8, 57]