A protein prevents plants from premature flowering
Researchers have discovered that UV-B rays, which are present in the sunlight, could influence the onset of flowering, but their action is repressed by a protein called RUP2.
The induction of flowering is of major importance from an ecological and agronomic point of view. Timely and synchronous flowering is essential to optimize pollination and allow seed production and maturation under favorable environmental conditions. Environmental factors, including light in particular, regulate flowering time, the mechanisms of which have been the subject of many studies. However, these experiments were usually performed in growth chambers in the absence of UV-B, a type of radiation that is a natural component of sunlight and, for example, is responsible for sunburns in humans. A team of scientists discovered that UV-B can be a powerful inducer of flowering, but that a protein called RUP2 blocks their action to prevent early flowering.
This research was a carried out by SPSW members Roman Ulm, Christian Fankhauser and additional colleagues and teams.
Reference publication
Arabidopsis RUP2 represses UVR8-mediated flowering in noninductive photoperiods
Arongaus, AB; Chen, S; Pireyre, M; Glockner, N; Galvao, VC; Albert, A; Winkler, JB; Fankhauser, C; Harter, K; Ulm, R
GENES & DEVELOPMENT, 32 (19-20):1332-1343; 10.1101/gad.318592.118 OCT 1 2018