A glimpse of light on the mystery of regulating temperate fruit tree blooming time

Authors: Liu, Zongrang; Dardick, Christopher - Chris; CIRILLI, MARCO - University Of Milan; GATTOLIN, STEFANO - University Of Milan

Submitted to: Horticulture Research
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/10/2024
Publication Date: 9/13/2024
Citation: Liu, Z., Dardick, C.D., Cirilli, M., Gattolin, S. 2024. A glimpse of light on the mystery of regulating temperate fruit tree blooming time. Horticulture Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae258.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae258

Interpretive Summary: Spring frost damage poses a major threat to fruit production in temperate climates, which has become more severe in some regions due to climate change. Management techniques to prevent or mitigate such damage are expensive and their effectiveness often variable, increasing the demand for breeding solutions, such as the exploitation of late flowering traits to avoid frost injury in spring. Due to the relative scarcity of late flowering traits in germplasm, gene editing technology represents a feasible option to engineer late flowering traits in temperate fruit crops, which requires an in-depth understanding of how target genes regulate flower development and blooming time. Recent studies by two groups identified a specific gene that controls flowering time in peach and revealed an intricate mechanism underlying flowering time regulation, which has direct implication for breeding late flowering time cultivars in peach and other temperate fruit trees.

Technical Abstract: Temperate fruit trees develop and regulate floral buds and flowering time much more complex than annual plants. Instead of one growing season for annual plants, flower development in temperate fruit trees occurs throughout late summer, fall, winter, and spring, and flowering time appears to be regulated by winter chilling and spring warmth. This thermal-dependent regulation of flower development and flowering time in temperate fruit trees is mechanistically unique but it still remains largely unknown. Recent studies by two groups have shed light on the mechanisms underlying flowering time regulation in peach and other temperate fruit trees, which has practical implications for breeding and/or engineering desirable bloom times to foster climate resilience in temperature perennial fruit crops.