METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR MODULATING FLOWERING AND MATURITY IN PLANTS

摘要

The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating
flowering time in
plants. Maize RAP2.7 nucleotide sequences are disclosed which upon
overexpression cause
later flowering and when inhibited cause earlier flowering. Also disclosed is
a DNA sequence
which acts as a regulator/enhancer of RAP2.7, termed VGT1. This sequence does
not code
for any known protein, but acts as either a RNAi element or a regulatory DNA
or RNA
element that either directly regulates expression of flowering genes such as
Rap2.7 or
specifically targets expression of other genes which control flowering genes
such as Rap2.7.
This element this can be used as a sequence-based marker to identify inbred
and hybrids
which have altered maturity. Methods for expressing these nucleotide sequences
in a plant for
modifying maturity and flowering in plants are provided as well as expression
constructs,
vectors, transformed cells and plants.