Rootstock Affects Floral Induction in Citrus Engaging the Expression of the <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T</i><i>(CiFT)</i>

• Main Authors: Stefania Bennici, Giuseppina Las Casas, Gaetano Distefano, Alessandra Gentile, Giuseppe Lana, Mario Di Di Guardo, Elisabetta Nicolosi, Stefano La Malfa, Alberto Continella
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: Agriculture
• Subjects: reproductive biology; endogenous factor; gene expression; “C35” citrange; “Swingle” citrumelo; <i>Citrus sinensis </i>(L.) Osb
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/2/140

In <i>Citrus</i>, flower induction represents the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. The regulation of flower induction is mainly triggered by exposure to low temperatures and water-deficit stress, which activates the signaling cascade leading to an increased expression of the citrus orthologs of the <i>FLOWERING LOCUS T</i> (<i>CiFT</i>). In this study, the relationship between rootstock and flower induction under Mediterranean field conditions was investigated by monitoring the expression levels of the floral promoter <i>CiFT2</i> in leaves of the pigmented sweet orange “Tarocco Scirè” grafted onto “C35” citrange and “Swingle” citrumelo rootstocks. The latter two are known to confer, respectively, high and low yield efficiency to the scion. In both rootstock/scion combinations, <i>CiFT2</i> showed a seasonal expression with a peak during the inductive period in January triggered by cold temperature. The “Tarocco Scirè”/”C35” citrange combination showed the highest expression levels for <i>CiFT2</i>; this increased expression was correlated with yield and a higher number of flowers in the following spring, suggesting a significant effect of rootstocks on flower induction mediated by the overexpression of the <i>CiFT2 </i>gene.