Identi®cation of a MADS-box gene, FLOWERING LOCUS M, that represses ¯owering

The timing of ¯owering is important for the reproductive success of plants. Here we describe the identi®cation and characterization of a new MADS-box gene, FLOWERING LOCUS M (FLM), which is involved in the transition from vegetative to reproductive development. FLM is similar in amino-acid sequence to FLC, another MADS-box gene involved in ¯owering-time control. ¯m mutants are early ¯owering in both inductive and non-inductive photoperiods, and ¯owering time is sensitive to FLM dosage. FLM overexpression produces late-¯owering plants. Thus FLM acts as an inhibitor of ¯owering. FLM is expressed in areas of cell division such as root and shoot apical regions and leaf primordia