What factors control variation in floral initiation in strawberry?

尽管分生组织命运的控制在园艺工业中具有重要意义，但在分子水平上的研究却缺乏足够的重视。和所有的蔷薇多年生植物一样（除了长生草莓和原树莓），在夏末的短时间内，花的形成发生在短暂的几天里，随后是强制性的休眠/冷却期，之后开花。众所周知，草莓的产量有很大的遗传变异，这在很大程度上是由花形成过程中腋生分生组织开花芽的产生决定的。虽然我们已经确定了典型草莓Fragaria vesca的花起始和开花芽产生的主要控制因子，但为了提高产量，还需要在八倍体草莓株系之间进行比较分子研究。该学生将基于目前对模型草莓的了解，结合对开花芽数对比的八倍体草莓系候选基因的分子分析，进行详细的生理研究。为了测试该基因在八倍体草莓中的功能，将使用基因编辑技术对两个候选基因进行操作，并在受控气候下对编辑后的品系进行测试。了解支撑花形成的关键分子过程将有助于选择高产品系和优化繁殖过程，从而将植物材料提供给具有更高产量潜力的种植者。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，特别是在计划种植制度中。

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.