Exploring sucrose and non-NPK essential nutrient signaling for precision control of flowering time

초록

Flowering time is a key agronomic trait closely linked to crop productivity. While it is primarily regulated by genetic programs and environmental cues such as photoperiod and temperature, increasing evidence highlights the significant role of physiological factors, particularly photosynthates and essential nutrients. Sucrose, the main product of photosynthesis, functions not only as an energy source but also as a signaling molecule that promotes floral transition by regulating key flowering genes, sugar transporters, and microRNAs. The trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) pathway further connects carbohydrate status to flowering. Recent studies have uncovered roles for secondary macronutrients including calcium, magnesium, and sulfur in modulating flowering through signal transduction, circadian regulation, and stress responses. Additionally, micronutrients such as boron, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and molybdenum influence flowering through pathways involving gene expression and metabolic regulation. This review highlights emerging insights into how sucrose and non-NPK essential nutrient signals integrate with molecular networks to regulate flowering, providing new strategies to optimize crop performance in sustainable agriculture.

키워드