RFT1 — Triticum turgidum subsp. durum

Summary

TRITD4BV1G203310 (symbol RFT1, also known as TtFTL10 or VRN3) on durum wheat chromosome 4B encodes a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP family). This gene is associated with the regulation of flowering time, including photoperiodism, the transition from vegetative to reproductive phase, and inflorescence and flower development. It is linked to both upregulation and downregulation of vernalization response and flower development, as well as response to short-day conditions. Associations with agronomic traits include anthesis time, heading date, spike length, spikelet number per spike, grain number per spike, node number, and grain yield. The gene product localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to heading time, grain number, grain weight, and drought tolerance.