Gene expression analysis of trigger mechanisms of reproduction in two maple species

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19135
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 40:Forestry and forest products science, applied aquatic science, and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: SUZUKI Maki 東京大学, 大学院新領域創成科学研究科, 准教授 (40396817)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 久本 洋子 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 助教 (60586014)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 開花開始 / Flowering locus T / 生活史戦略 / 個体サイズ / 光条件

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The expression status of genes involved in initiation of flowering was investigated for two acer species (Acer mono and Acer amoenum) by using comprehensive gene expression analysis (RNA-seq). Canopy leaves of trees of various sizes and in environmental conditions were repeatedly sampled before, during and after bud formation to track change in gene expression. As the first step, we identified probable FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) genes for the first time for both species. According to the results of RNA-seq analysis, the expression levels of genes homologous to several regulators of FT were correlated with FT gene expression, and they were also significantly correlated with the light environment and/or size of target individuals. These genes were suggested to be involved in life-stage related initiation of flowering in the target tree species.

Free Research Field

森林生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高木種は生活史後期に開花を開始するが，その遺伝的機構は解明されていない．本研究では，この機構に関わる遺伝子を世界で初めて探索し，芽形成期に発現量が変動する遺伝子の情報から，開花の開始に関わっている可能性の高い遺伝子群を絞り込むことに成功した．これにより，対象樹種の開花開始に関わる遺伝機構の解明に向け，大きく前進した．また，今回同定した２樹種のFT遺伝子座の情報は，カエデ属の近縁種の花成研究に直接役立つため，園芸や林業への応用が期待できる．