Floral induction gene

A plant comprising in its genome a genetic construct comprising a sense or antisense FPA polynucleotide sequence, wherein the expression of the sequence in the plant causes alteration in the flowering timing of the plant as compared to non-transgenic plants of the same species.

A plant seed comprising in its genome a genetic construct comprising a sense or antisense FPA polynucleotide sequence and a plant expressible promoter, which promotes expression of the FPA polynucleotide sequence in the plant, wherein expression of the sequence in the plant causes alteration of the flowering timing of the plant as compared to non-transgenic plants of the same species.

An isolated DNA sequence comprising the coding sequence for the FPA gene from Arabidopsis thaliana.

An isolated DNA sequence comprising a DNA sequence encoding the FPA protein from Arabidopsis thaliana.

A method of producing a transgenic plant with altered flowering characteristics comprising the steps of constructing a genetic construct comprising a plant expressible promoter and an FPA polynucleotide sequence, introducing the genetic construct into a plant cell, selecting a plant that has received a copy of the genetic construct, and growing the plant under conditions that allow expression of the FPA gene.

A method of altering FLC mRNA activity in a plant comprising the steps of constructing a genetic construct comprising a plant expressible promoter and an FPA polynucleotide sequence, introducing the genetic construct into a plant cell, selecting a plant that has received a copy of the genetic construct, and growing the plant under conditions that allow expression of the FPA gene.