Research advances on SOC1 genes in crop plants: from molecular insights to trait improvement

SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1) is a MADS-box transcription factor that regulates the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth by integrating multiple endogenous and environmental signals. Recent advances have significantly expanded our understanding of its functions and regulatory mechanisms in diverse crop plants, ranging from cereals and other agronomic crops to vegetable, fruit, and specialty crops. This review summarizes the molecular characteristics, functional diversity, regulatory mechanisms, and agricultural applications of SOC1 , highlighting its role as a central hub of flowering-time control. Potential applications of SOC1 in crop improvement, including yield enhancement, artificial intelligence–guided gene editing, and the design of high-temperature-resistant crops via optimized SOC1 variants, as well as the pleiotropic effects, tradeoffs, risks, mechanistic gaps and future research directions for SOC1 manipulation in crop breeding, are also discussed. SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1), a MADS-box transcription factor, regulates the vegetative-to-reproductive growth transition by integrating endogenous and environmental signals. This review outlines SOC1’s molecular traits, functional diversity, regulatory mechanisms, and agricultural applications, emphasizing its central role in flowering-time control, and discusses the potential uses of SOC1 s in crop improvement. • The phylogenetic relationships and protein structures of crop SOC1 homologs are analyzed. • Expression patterns and protein subcellular localizations of crop SOC1 homologs are summarized. • The functions and of mechanisms of SOC1 proteins in regulating floral transition, shoot architecture, and abiotic stress responses in various crops are highlighted. • Potential applications of SOC1 homologs in crop improvement are discussed.