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In situ expression of the GmNMH7 gene is photoperiod-dependent in a unique soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) flowering reversion system

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Abstract

Soybean is a short-day plant and its flowering process can be reversed when switching from short-day to long-day conditions. Flowering reversion provides a useful system to study the flowering process in both forward and backward directions. In this study, we optimized a soybean flowering reversion system using a photoperiod-sensitive cultivar Zigongdongdou. Three types of terminal structures were found during flowering reversion: reversed terminal raceme (RTR), short terminal raceme (STR), and vegetative terminal (VT). The relative frequency of these terminal structures during flowering reversion under long day was dependent on the duration of the prior short day (SD) pretreatment. This process is phytochrome dependent and young plants were more susceptible to flowering reversion. Leaf removal increased the minimal SD period needed for the induction of STR. To demonstrate the application of this system, we studied the patterns of in situ expression of the GmNMH7 gene during flowering development and reversion. NMH7 family members encode MADS-box proteins and are unique in legume families since their expression can be detected in both developing flowers and nodules. In situ hybridization experiments using plants grown under different photoperiod cycles provided several lines of evidence supporting a close relationship between GmNMH7 gene expression and floral development in soybean. Furthermore, it seems that GmNMH7 may participate in flower development at different stages. Interestingly, the expression pattern of GmNMH7 in root nodules was also found to be regulated by photoperiod. These results support the notion that the photoperiod sensitive GmNMH7 gene may play multiple roles in growth and development in soybean.

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Abbreviations

ZGDD:

Zigongdongdou

GmNMH7:

Glycine max NMH7

NMH7:

Nodule MADS-box Homologue 7

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30471054, 30490250), State Key Basic Research and Development Plan of China (2002CB111301), and National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2003AA207060, 2004AA241060) to T.H.; by the grant from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Innovation Fund to K.C., and by the grants from Hong Kong UGC Area of Excellence on Plant & Fungal Biotechnology and CUHK Direct Grant to H.-M.L.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Soybean Improvement Sub-center, Institute of Crop Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China

    Cunxiang Wu, Qibin Ma & Tianfu Han

  2. Key Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Environmental Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 20 Nanxincun, Haidian District, Beijing , 100093, China

    Qibin Ma, Yunyuan Xu & Kang Chong

  3. Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, SAR, China

    Kwan-Mei Yam, Ming-Yan Cheung & Hon-Ming Lam

Authors
  1. Cunxiang Wu
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  2. Qibin Ma
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  3. Kwan-Mei Yam
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  4. Ming-Yan Cheung
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  5. Yunyuan Xu
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  6. Tianfu Han
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  7. Hon-Ming Lam
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  8. Kang Chong
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Tianfu Han, Hon-Ming Lam or Kang Chong.

Additional information

C. Wu and Q. Ma contributed equally to this work.

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Wu, C., Ma, Q., Yam, KM. et al. In situ expression of the GmNMH7 gene is photoperiod-dependent in a unique soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) flowering reversion system. Planta 223, 725–735 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-0130-y

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