FIGURE 7.

Model of the flowering time regulation pathway in N. caerulescens. In general, the vernalization pathway resembles that of A. thaliana. In contrast to A. thaliana, under high temperature (30°C), NcFT and NcSOC1 are highly expressed, but no longer able to induce the downstream floral identity genes NcLFY and NcAP1, which delays and disturbs floral initiation at this temperature. Gene X? stands for a third, yet unidentified, floral repressor, which functions parallel to NcFLC and NcSVP. External factors, e.g., elevated ambient temperature, may suppress the expression of NcLFY and NcAP1 at 30°C. Arrows indicate induction of expression. Bar-ended lines indicate repression of expression. Solid lines indicate confirmed expression effects, while dotted lines indicate interactions still unconfirmed.