Poster: Reproductive development

Abs # 341: Flowering in the biennial crucifer, Barbarea verna

Presenter:	Neil, Ronald M.
Authors	Neil, Ronald M. (A)   Kidd-Pettit, Kendrah O. (A)   Jetton, Jacquelyn A. (A)   Farmer, Joceyln R. (A)   Bennett, Kristen E. (A)   Jarrell, Jesse H. (A)   Homsi, Sara  (A)   Hurt, Misty R. (A)   Brian, Tague W. (A)
Affiliations:	(A): Department of Biology, Wake Forest University
Web Site:	http://www.wfu.edu/~taguebw/

The timing of transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is crucial in the life history of higher plants. Internal and external cues are integrated to coordinate the production of flowers with the cycle of the seasons, the availability of pollinators and the lack of competitors. Currently the majority of work on floral induction has been done with the annual plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Our lab is interested in importing the tools and models developed for arabidopsis into relatives with unique characteristics. For example, many plants are not annuals, but are biennial or perennial. Often these plants have an obligate rather than a facultative requirement for an extended cold treatment (vernalization) for floral induction. We are developing the crucifer, Barbarea verna (Upland cress, creasy greens), as a model of biennial flowering. We are examining the differences and similarities between B. verna and Arabidopsis thaliana with regard to the floral development pathway. We have characterized the age, vernalization and photoperiod requirements for B. verna. The perception of long periods of cold in B. verna is an epigenetic phenomenon as in other plants. However, we find no evidence of DNA demethylation (an early step in cold perception for many plants) during vernalization of B. verna. We are also analyzing the role of FLOWERING LOCUS C in B. verna flowering. FLC is a key floral repressor in arabidopsis whose expression is decreased during vernalization. Results from expression studies and cloning of the B. verna FLC will be reported. Finally, progress towards developing a transformation procedure for B. verna will be presented.