Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Plant Gene Expression Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #164681
Title: COMPETENCE TO RESPOND TO FLORAL INDUCTIVE SIGNALS REQUIRES THE HOMEOBOX GENES PENNYWISE AND POUND-FOOLISH

Author
item SMITH, HARLEY - UCB-ARS PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item Campbell, Bruce
item Hake, Sarah

Submitted to: Current Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/19/2004
Publication Date: 5/3/2004
Citation: Smith, H.M., Campbell, B.C., Hake, S.C. 2004. Competence to Respond to Floral Inductive Signals Requires the Homebox Genes PENNYWISE and POUND-FOOLISH. Current Biology 14(9):812-817.

Interpretive Summary: The transition from vegetative to reproductive development establishes new growth patterns required for flowering. This switch is controlled by environmental and/or intrinsic developmental cues that converge at the shoot apical meristem (SAM). During this developmental transition, floral inductive signals cause the vegetative meristem to undergo morphological changes that are essential for flowering. We have identified two genes that are required for this transition. These studies establish a link between the competence to receive floral inductive signals and restructuring of the SAM during floral evocation.

Technical Abstract: The transition from vegetative to reproductive development establishes new growth patterns required for flowering. This switch is controlled by environmental and/or intrinsic developmental cues that converge at the shoot apical meristem (SAM). During this developmental transition, floral inductive signals cause the vegetative meristem to undergo morphological changes that are essential for flowering. Arabidopsis plants containing null mutations in two paralogous BEL1-like (BELL) homeobox genes, PENNYWISE (PNY) and POUND-FOOLISH (PNF), disrupt the transition from vegetative to reproductive development. These double mutants are completely unable to flower even though the SAM displays morphological and molecular changes that are consistent with having received floral inductive signals. These studies establish a link between the competence to receive floral inductive signals and restructuring of the SAM during floral evocation.