| Authors: | Lu, S., Dong, L., Fang, C., Liu, S., Kong, L., Cheng, Q., Chen, L. , Su, T., Nan, H., Zhang, D., Zhang, L., Wang, Z., Yang, Y., Yu, D., Liu, X., Yang, Q., Lin, X., Tang, Y., Zhao, X., Yang, X., Tian, C., Xie, Q., Li, X., Yuan, X., Tian, Z., Liu, B., Weller, J.L., Kong, F. |
| Abstract: | Adaptive changes in plant phenology are often considered to be a feature of the so-called domestication syndrome that distinguishes modern crops from their wild progenitors, but little detailed evidence supports this idea. In soybean, a major legume crop, flowering time variation is well characterized within domesticated germplasm and is critical for modern production, but its importance during domestication is unclear. Here, we identify sequential contributions of two homeologous pseudo-response-regulator genes,Tof12andTof11, to ancient flowering time adaptation, and demonstrate that they act viaLHYhomologs to promote expression of the legume-specificE1gene and delay flowering under long photoperiods. We show thatTof12-dependent acceleration of maturity accompanied a reduction in dormancy and seed dispersal during soybean domestication, possibly predisposing the incipient crop to latitudinal expansion. Better understanding of this early phase of crop evolution will help to identify functional variation lost during domestication and exploit its potential for future crop improvement. |
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