The floral transition from vegetative to reproductive development is a very important step in the life cycle of aflowering plant. Extensive genetic analysis using model plant Arabidopsis has revealed that multiple pathways, as photoperiod,vernalization, autonomous pathway, gibberellin, and endogenous cues in a specific season are involved in the flowering time.Many genes that control flowering time have been identified. Among these, vernalization and autonomous pathway are mediatedby the regulation of the floral repressor FLC. These pathways depend on a multitude of factors involved in RNA processingand epigenetic regulation that regulate the floral repressor FLC. FLD, FVE, VIN3, VRN1, VRN2, and FRI are involved inchromatin-remodeling, FY in RNA processing, and FCA, FPA, and FLK in RNA binding. In photoperiod pathway, the floweringinduction signals from light are integrated by floral integrator FT. FT is induced by the CO and induces the expression of floralmeristem identity gene AP1, which control floral organ development. Controlling the timing of floral transition is essentiallyimportant in crop plants for high agricultural productivity and adaptation to environmental changes. Currently, a growing numberof genes related to flowering have been studied in crop plants. This article reviews the key regulators in floral regulatorypathways and application of these genes to modification of flowering time in crop plants.
