Journal article
A reduced-function BnaFLC.A2 haplotype confers early flowering without yield loss in semi-winter rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)
Industrial crops and products, Vol.250, pp.1-13
08/2026
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Abstract
Ecotype differentiation in Brassica napus L. (canola, rapeseed) is primarily determined by vernalization requirement. However, the molecular mechanism through which haplotypes of key flowering genes—particularly BnaFLC.A2, along with BnaFLC.A10 and BnaFT.A2—cooperatively regulate flowering time across crop ecotypes remains poorly understood. Spatiotemporal expression profiling showed that BnaFLC.A2 and BnaFLC.A10 are highly expressed during vegetative growth in winter and semi-winter ecotypes, where they repress floral transition, while BnaFT.A2 is upregulated post-induction to promote flowering. Furthermore, BnaFLC.A2 protein forms both homodimers and heterodimers with BnaFLC.A10, which synergistically suppress BnaFT.A2 expression and collectively modulate flowering time. Population genetics analyses revealed that BnaFLC.A2 is highly conserved in winter and semi-winter ecotypes, in contrast to BnaFLC.A10, which shows signs of positive selection. To functionally validate the role of BnaFLC.A2, we developed near-isogenic lines (NILs) by introgressing the spring allele BnaFLC.A2Wes into a semi-winter background, replacing the alleles BnaFLC.A2Tar/ZS. This substitution significantly shortened flowering time by 20 days under field conditions in Wuhan, a moderate vernalization environment. Importantly, the NILs maintained relatively stable seed yield and oil content under normal sowing as well as under a 17-day delay in sowing. These results underscore the critical role of BnaFLC.A2 in agroecological adaptation, which is mediated by its temporally regulated expression and protein interactions. This study provides a strategic foundation for optimizing flowering time in B. napus breeding.
Details
- Title
- A reduced-function BnaFLC.A2 haplotype confers early flowering without yield loss in semi-winter rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)
- Creators
- Shuai Yin - Jianghan UniversityYarui Wu - Huazhong Agricultural UniversityDewei Mu - Huazhong Agricultural UniversityYu Wang - Huazhong Agricultural UniversityJizhao Yang - Huazhong Agricultural UniversityQingdong Jin - Huazhong Agricultural UniversityTianyuan Xue - Jianghan UniversityJindong Chen - Jianghan UniversityHeping Wan - Jianghan UniversityGraham John King - Recombics (Australia, Alstonville)Jing Wang - Huazhong Agricultural UniversityChangli Zeng - Jianghan UniversityXianhong Ge - Huazhong Agricultural University
- Publication Details
- Industrial crops and products, Vol.250, pp.1-13
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V.
- Grant note
- We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32501970), Jianghan University Technology Innovation Platform Project (2023KJPT01), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFD1200205), and the Key Research and Development Program of Hubei Province (2024BBB009).
- Identifiers
- 991013389902702368
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Academic Unit
- Office of the Vice Chancellor; Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article