What factors control variation in floral initiation in strawberry?

分生组织命运控制的研究在分子水平上缺乏足够的重视，尽管分生组织命运在园艺产业中具有重要意义。就像所有的玫瑰科多年生植物(除了常年生长的草莓和覆盆子)一样，花的萌发发生在夏末的短短几天里，然后是强制性的休眠/冷冻期，之后开花。众所周知，草莓的产量存在很大的遗传变异，这在很大程度上是由腋生分生组织在开花过程中产生的花枝决定的。虽然我们已经在模式草莓Fragaria Vesca中确定了控制开花和花芽产生的主要因素，但八倍体草莓品系之间应该进行比较分子研究，以提高产量。基于模式草莓的现有知识，这个学生将进行详细的生理学研究，并结合分子分析对开花枝数不同的八倍体草莓品系的候选基因进行分析。为了测试八倍体草莓的基因功能，将使用基因编辑技术操纵两个候选基因，并在受控气候下对编辑后的品系进行测试。了解支撑开花的关键分子过程将有助于选择高产品系和优化繁殖过程，这反过来将向具有更高产量潜力的种植者提供植物材料。这是必要的，因为产量仍然是提高种植者盈利能力的主要限制因素，特别是在程序种植制度下。

The research on the control of meristem fates lacked sufficient attention at the molecular level, despite its large importance in the horticultural industry. As with all rosaceous perennials (apart from everbearing strawberries and primocane raspberries), floral initiation happens in short days at the end of summer, followed by an obligatory dormancy/chilling period, after which flowers emerge. It is well known that there is large, genetically determined variation in yield in strawberry that is largely determined by the production of flowering shoots from axillary meristems during the floral initiation process. While we have identified major players controlling floral initiation and the production of flowering shoots in the model strawberry, Fragaria vesca, comparative molecular studies should be done between lines of the octoploid strawberry to improve yield. Based on the current knowledge in the model strawberry, this student will carry out detailed physiological studies combined with molecular analyses of candidate genes in the octoploid strawberry lines with contrasting number of flowering shoots. To test the gene functions in octoploid strawberry, two candidate genes will be manipulated using gene editing technology, and the edited lines will be tested in a controlled climate. Understanding the key molecular processes that underpin floral initiation will facilitate the selection of high yielding lines and optimisation of the propagation processes which in turn will deliver plant material to growers that has higher yield potential. This is necessary, since yield is still a primary limiting factor to enhanced profitability for growers especially in programmed cropping systems.