BrMAF5 and Its Antisense lncRNA BrMAF5L Regulate Vernalization-Induced Bolting and Flowering in Chinese Cabbage

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Bolting and flowering time are critical agronomic traits affecting the commercial value and breeding efficiency of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis). Although vernalization is a key environmental signal promoting flowering, its regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood in this crop. Here, we identify the flowering repressor gene BrMAF5 and its antisense long non-coding RNA BrMAF5L as negative regulators of vernalization-induced flowering. During vernalization, transcript levels of both genes showed a decreasing trend as the vernalization period extended. Functional assays in Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrated that ectopic expression of BrMAF5 or BrMAF5L significantly delayed flowering, accompanied by increased expression of floral repressors (AtFLC, AtTEM1) and reduced expression of floral activators (AtFT, AtSOC1). Moreover, protein interaction analysis revealed that BrMAF5 associates with BrACP4 and BrRAB1A, linking it to fatty acid metabolism and membrane trafficking pathways. Collectively, our results reveal a novel regulatory module in vernalization-mediated flowering. These findings pave the way for developing bolting-resistant Brassicaceae crops by identifying promising molecular targets.
Funding Information
  • National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD1200502)
  • China Agriculture Research System (CARS-23-A-14)
  • Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS-ASTIP-IVFCAAS)

This publication has 33 references indexed in Scilit: