CmFTL2 is involved in the photoperiod- and sucrose-mediated control of flowering time in chrysanthemum

Researchers have characterized a gene controlling chrysanthemum flowering in response to both sucrose and day length. The family of genes known as Flowering Locus T (FT) regulate flowering in many plant species. Chrysanthemums, the world's second most popular ornamentals after roses, have three FT genes. Two are understood to regulate flowering under short (winter) and long (summer) days, respectively, but the role of the third has remained elusive. A team at Nanjing Agricultural University, China, led by Jiafu Jiang, studied the activity of this gene, CsFTL2. They found that application of sucrose, which acts as a plant signaling molecule, increased CsFTL2 activity and promoted flowering under both short-day and simulated long-day conditions. This suggests that CsFTL2 regulates flowering in response to both day length and sucrose. The finding may help growers control flowering in chrysanthemums more precisely.