[Regulation network and biological roles of LEAFY in Arabidopsis thaliana in floral development].

Recent research progress on regulation network and biological roles of LFY gene in Arabidopsis thaliana and its homologue genes in floral development are reviewed emphatically in the present paper. LFY gene expresses widely in both vegetative and reproductive tissues in different higher plants, therefore investigation on role of LFY gene on flowering is of general significance. LFY gene plays an important role to promote flower formation by interaction and coordination with other genes,such as TFL, EMF, AP1, AP2, CAL, FWA, FT, AP3, PI, AG, UFO, CO, LD, GA1 etc, and a critical level of LFY expression is essential. LFY gene not only controls flowering-time and floral transition,but also plays an important role in inflorescence and floral organ development. It was situated at the central site in gene network of flowering regulation,positively or negatively regulates the level or activities of flowering-related genes. Some physiological factors, such as carbon sources, phytohormones, affect directly or indirectly the expression and actions of LFY gene. This indicates that level of LFY expression can also be regulated with physiological methods. It is probable that we can explain the principal mechanism of flowering by regulation network of LFY gene.