TRANSCRIPTOMICS: MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF THE CONTROL OF THE FLOWERING IN PLANTS AND GENE REGULATORY NETWORK MODELS FOR CONTROL OF FLOWERING

Plants are dynamic systems able to continuously adapt to changing environmental conditions, showing a remarkable phenotypic plasticity as from transition from germination to vegetative growth then to reproductive development (flowering). This review provides insight into regulatory mechanisms for phytochrome-mediated light signalling pathway; and the roles of phytochromes and their downstream signalling components, molecular mechanisms light-perceiving photoreceptors and other positive and negative regulators of light signalling as well as interactions between these components during plant growth and development. In this review, molecular mechanisms and the gene regulatory network for the control of flowering were reviewed. Light is one of the most important factors regulating plant growth and development (photo-morphogenesis) that control plant development, from seed germination to flowering and senescence. Plants transition from vegetative growth to reproductive development (flowering) is controlled by result of responses to various endogenous (molecular) and exogenous (environmental) signals that later integrate to result in flowering. Multiple genetically defined novel pathways have been identified that control flowering. Furthermore, these include the photoperiod, vernalization, autonomous and gibberellin (GA) pathways and are increasingly being identified, including hormonal signals to control floral transition.