Hormonal Regulation and expression of FLOWERING LOCUS T during the reproductive period of Coffea arabica
Coffee; Induction of flowering; plant hormone; RT-qPCR; UPLC-MS/MS.
In Coffea arabica, phenological stages are influenced by climatic conditions. Factors such as photoperiod, rain and temperature affect the hormone concentration of coffee, which can induce the transition of plants from the vegetative to the reproductive stage. During the period from flowering induction to bud formation, different hormones play specific roles in the regulation of flowering and subsequent fruit production. It is believed that hormones such as gibberellins (GA), abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA) and ethylene, may be involved in modulating the expression of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), a transcription factor key in inducing flowering. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the hormonal regulation involved during the reproductive period of coffee trees and to evaluate which hormones affect FT gene expression. To better understand hormonal regulation, leaf and flower bud samples will be collected monthly, from March (induction of flowering) to September (after anthesis), the endogenous concentration of GA, ABA, AS, Ethylene and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC: ethylene precursor) will be quantified.. These variations in hormone levels will be compared to environmental conditions recorded during the reproductive period. The following year, the aforementioned hormones will be applied in the field, specifically in March. The samples will be collected at two time points after application (2h and 6 h), hormone concentration will be quantified, and the expression of the FT gene will be evaluated for each treatment. This study is expected to reveal changes in plant hormone levels in the coffee plants, to establish connections with environmental conditions during the reproductive period, and to provide information on the mechanisms that trigger flowering and promote flower bud development. Understanding the interactions between hormones and FT gene expression can lead to more effective management strategies to improve coffee production.