Hybrid weakness and continuous flowering caused by compound expression of FTLs in Chrysanthemum morifolium × Leucanthemum paludosum intergeneric hybridization

Abstract

Hybridization is an important evolutionary mechanism ubiquitous to plants. Previous studies have shown that hybrid polyploidization of cultivated chrysanthemum, 'Zhongshanzigui', and Leucanthemum paludosum exhibit spring-flowering traits. This study explores the function of the LpFTLs gene via the phenotype of A. thaliana after heterologous transformation of the LpFTLs gene, and analyzes the mechanism ofthe continuous flowering phenotype and heterosis of hybrid offspring. The results suggest that the flowering phenotype of hybrid offspring in spring may be related to the expression of the LpFTLs gene. Ectopic expression of Leucanthemum paludosumLpFTLs in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in earlier flowering, indicating that the LpFTLs gene also affects the flowering time in L. paludosum. Compound expression of FTLs in C. morifolium × L. paludosum intergeneric hybridization directly leads to serious heterosis in the hybrid offspring. Moreover, continuous flowering appears to be accompanied by hybrid weakness under the balance of vegetative and reproductive growth. Therefore, in future studies on chrysanthemum breeding, a suitable balance point must be established to ensure the target flowering time under normal growth.

Keywords: FTLs; chrysanthemum; continuous flowering; hybrid weakness; hybridization.