A genome-wide overview and characterization of genes implicated in photomorphogenesis and flowering in Lotus japonicus

Photomorphogenesis and control of flowering time are fundamental for every flowering plant. The vast volume of information as to the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes has already come from the current Arabidopsis biology. From ecological viewpoint, however, the detailed mechanisms should be significantly diverse from one plant species from the other. Hence, it is timely and important to extend our understanding as to the mechanisms underlying photomorphogenesis and flowering toward the greatly diverse plant species other than Arabidopsis. In this respect, legume plants are economically important objects, because they yearly provide us with 1/3 of grain production in the whole world.<br> With the model legume Lotus japonicus, here we conducted genome-wide bio-informatics with special reference to the genes implicated in photomorphogenesis and control of flowering time including the genes involved in the photoperiodic and/or FLC-repression pathways, together with those implicated in the so-called ABC model. Furthermore, we will provide experimental evidence for that this legume had a florigen FT-like gene, which has an ability to promote flowering in Arabidopsis.