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Natural variation at the soybean J locus improves adaptation to the tropics and enhances yield
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 06:14 authored by Lu, S, Zhao, X, Hu, Y, Liu, S, Nan, H, Li, X, Fang, C, Cao, D, Shi, X, Kong, L, Su, T, Zhang, F, Li, S, Wang, Z, Yuan, X, Cober, ER, James WellerJames Weller, Liu, B, Hou, X, Tian, Z, Kong, FSoybean is a major legume crop originating in temperate regions, and photoperiod responsiveness is a key factor in its latitudinal adaptation. Varieties from temperate regions introduced to lower latitudes mature early and have extremely low grain yields. Introduction of the long-juvenile (LJ) trait extends the vegetative phase and improves yield under short-day conditions, thereby enabling expansion of cultivation in tropical regions. Here we report the cloning and characterization of J, the major classical locus conferring the LJ trait, and identify J as the ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3). J depends genetically on the legume-specific flowering repressor E1, and J protein physically associates with the E1 promoter to downregulate its transcription, relieving repression of two important FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) genes and promoting flowering under short days. Our findings identify an important new component in flowering-time control in soybean and provide new insight into soybean adaptation to tropical regions.
Funding
Australian Research Council
History
Publication title
Nature GeneticsVolume
49Issue
5Pagination
773-779ISSN
1061-4036Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Nature Publishing GroupPlace of publication
345 Park Ave South, New York, USA, NY, 10010-1707Rights statement
© 2017 Nature AmericaRepository Status
- Restricted