THE LATE-FLOWERING PHENOTYPE OF FRIGIDA AND MUTATIONS IN LUMINIDEPENDENS IS SUPPRESSED IN THE LANDSBERG ERECTA STRAIN OF ARABIDOPSIS

The late-flowering phenotype of mutations in the LUMINIDEPENDENS (LD) gene and the late flowering caused by the naturally occurring dominant gene FRIGIDA (FRI) are suppressed in the Landsberg erecta (Ler) strai n of Arabidopsis thaliana. This suppression is dependent on a locus on chromosome 5 designated FLC. Of the ecotypes tested, only the Ler str ain contains the suppressor allele of FLC; Id mutations and FRI cause late flowering in the other genetic backgrounds. The allele at FLC als o has a moderate effect on flowering time in the absence of FRI or Id mutations. The flowering time effects of FLC are gene dosage dependent .