As knowledge of the gene networks regulating inflorescence development in Arabidopsis thaliana improves, the current challenge is to characterize this system in different groups of crop species with different inflorescence architecture. Pea (Pisum sativum) has served as a model for development of the compound raceme, characteristic of many legume species, and in this study, we characterize the pea VEGETATIVE2 (VEG2) locus, showing that it is critical for regulation of flowering and inflorescence development and identifying it as a homolog of the bZIP transcription factor FD. Through detailed phenotypic characterizations of veg2 mutants, expression analyses, and the use of protein-protein interaction assays, we find that VEG2 has important roles during each stage of development of the pea compound inflorescence. Our results suggest that VEG2 acts in conjunction with multiple FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) proteins to regulate expression of downstream target genes, including TERMINAL FLOWER1, LEAFY, and MADS box homologs, and to facilitate cross-regulation within the FT gene family. These findings further extend our understanding of the mechanisms underlying compound inflorescence development in pea and may have wider implications for future manipulation of inflorescence architecture in related legume crop species.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	flowering
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Plant biology
Research Field:	Plant physiology
Objective Division:	Plant Production and Plant Primary Products
Objective Group:	Grains and seeds
Objective Field:	Grain legumes
UTAS Author:	Sussmilch, FC (Dr Frances Sussmilch)
UTAS Author:	Hecht, V (Dr Valerie Hecht)
UTAS Author:	Vander Schoor, JK (Mrs Jacqueline Vander Schoor)
UTAS Author:	Weller, JL (Associate Professor Jim Weller)
ID Code:	101876
Year Published:	2015
Web of Science® Times Cited:	33
Deposited By:	Plant Science
Deposited On:	2015-07-14
Last Modified:	2017-11-02
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