# Contrasting gene expression patterns during floral induction in two Chenopodium ficifolium genotypes reveal putative flowering regulators

## TL;DR

This study compares gene activity during flowering in two Chenopodium ficifolium plants with different light needs, revealing genes that control when they bloom.

## Contribution

The study identifies putative flowering regulators through contrasting gene expression patterns in two genotypes with opposing photoperiodic requirements.

## Key findings

- Phytohormone concentrations and most gene expression profiles were similar between the two genotypes during floral induction.
- A subset of genes, including homologs of Arabidopsis flowering genes, showed contrasting expression patterns aligned with photoperiodic requirements.
- The FLOWERING LOCUS T-LIKE 2–1 gene was activated under long days in one genotype and short days in the other, confirming its role as a floral activator.

## Abstract

Chenopodium ficifolium is a close diploid relative of the tetraploid crop Chenopodium quinoa. Owing to its reproducible germination and seedling development, it becomes a promising model for studying floral induction, providing a basis for the comparison with C. quinoa. Two C. ficifolium genotypes differ in photoperiodic requirement: C. ficifolium 283 accelerates flowering under long days, whereas C. ficifolium 459 flowers earlier under short days. This study conducted a comprehensive transcriptomic and hormonomic analysis of floral induction in the long-day C. ficifolium 283 and compared the findings to previous experiments with the short-day C. ficifolium. Phytohormone concentrations and gene expression profiles during floral induction were largely similar between the two genotypes. However, a subset of genes exhibited contrasting expression patterns, aligning with the genotypes’ differing photoperiodic requirements. These genes, predominantly homologs of flowering-related genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, were activated under long days in C. ficifolium 283 and under short days in C. ficifolium 459. Notably, the contrasting expression of the FLOWERING LOCUS T-LIKE 2–1 gene, which was previously shown to induce precocious flowering in A. thaliana, confirmed its role as a floral activator, despite its low expression levels.