FT — Sorghum bicolor

Summary

SORBI_3002G262500, designated SbFT, encodes a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) family member, the sorghum ortholog of FLOWERING LOCUS T. The product exhibits DNA-binding transcription factor activity, mRNA regulatory element binding translation repressor activity, and protein O-GlcNAc transferase activity, and is associated with lipid and protein binding. SbFT is associated with photoperiodic flowering, particularly upregulation of long-day flowering and response to short days, as well as floral whorl development, meristem determinacy, and vernalization response. It is associated with traits including photoperiod-sensitive flowering time, inflorescence development, spikelet floret size, stem length, shoot axis branching, and plant male sterility. Localization evidence places the protein at the plasmodesmata, endoplasmic reticulum, and plastid. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to floral transition, photoperiodic flowering response, and seed yield.