Evolutionary insights into the Flowering Locus T (FT) gene in soybean (Glycine max)

Background: The Flowering Locus T (FT) gene plays a pivotal role in the regulation of flowering time and seasonal adaptation in plants. In this study, the FT gene from Glycine max was analyzed to explore its evolutionary relationships across leguminous species. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed a high degree of sequence conservation, particularly among closely related genera, suggesting functional stability of FT in flowering regulation. The findings provide insight into the evolutionary dynamics of the FT gene and its potential role in legume breeding programs targeting climate-resilient flowering traits. Methods: In present study, the nucleotide sequence of Glycine max FT (GmFT) was used to identify homologous sequences within the Fabaceae family through BLASTn analysis. As well as for identify protein homologous sequences. A total of 18 Fabaceae FT homologs, along with Arabidopsis thaliana FT as an out group, were aligned using the CLUSTAL W algorithm in MEGA 11. Using MEME and SMART-EMBL motif and domain predicted. Result: The Tamura 3-parameter model with Gamma distribution (T92 + G) was identified as the best-fit nucleotide substitution model, based on the lowest BIC and AIC values. For protein JTT (Jones-Taylor-Thornton) substitution model found to best model. Phylogenetic reconstruction was performed using the Maximum Likelihood (ML) method reliability assessment using 1000 bootstrap replicates. Based on lower E-value selected motif submit to TOMTOM for finding transcription factor. With the help of domain identified functionality. Conclusion: The evolutionary analysis of the FT gene in legumes reveals a strong conservation across species, alongside distinct lineage-specific variations. These differences likely contribute to the unique flowering patterns observed among leguminous crops. Understanding such genetic diversity provides crucial insights for breeding programs. Ultimately, this knowledge can guide targeted strategies to optimize flowering time and enhance stress resilience in legumes.