Adaptation and integration of environmental cues to internal flowering network in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract

Transition to flowering is timed by environmental cues in plants, which makes plants flower at a favorable time for seed setting. Seasonal cues like cold exposure and day length and environmental abiotic stresses have been found to affect floral transition. In model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, inputs of exogeneous stimuli and multiple internal flowering regulation pathways converge on the FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC)-FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) network for flowering. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the epigenetic regulation of flowering in Arabidopsis with the emphasis on the seasonal cues of vernalization and photoperiod pathways. Moreover, the effects of abiotic stresses on hormone-mediated floral transition are briefly discussed.