Journal
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
Volume 14, Issue 10, Pages 1976-1985Publisher
WILEY-BLACKWELL
DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12555
Keywords
citrus vector; speed up genetic studies; early flowering in juvenile citrus plant
Funding
- FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development) [AGL2012-32 429]
- Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO)
- IVIA
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The long juvenile period of citrus trees (often more than 6years) has hindered genetic improvement by traditional breeding methods and genetic studies. In this work, we have developed a biotechnology tool to promote transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase in juvenile citrus plants by expression of the Arabidopsis thaliana or citrus FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) genes using a Citrus leaf blotch virus-based vector (clbvINpr-AtFT and clbvINpr-CiFT, respectively). Citrus plants of different genotypes graft inoculated with either of these vectors started flowering within 4-6months, with no alteration of the plant architecture, leaf, flower or fruit morphology in comparison with noninoculated adult plants. The vector did not integrate in or recombine with the plant genome nor was it pollen or vector transmissible, albeit seed transmission at low rate was detected. The clbvINpr-AtFT is very stable, and flowering was observed over a period of at least 5years. Precocious flowering of juvenile citrus plants after vector infection provides a helpful and safe tool to dramatically speed up genetic studies and breeding programmes.
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