Flowering on Time: Multilayered Restrictions on FT in Plants

The successful transition from vegetative to reproductive growth directly influences plant biomass and fitness. The regulation of flowering time has been investigated for over two decades, with several molecular modules having been characterized, functioning in the photoperiod, vernalization, autonomous, aging, or phytohormone pathways. Although the upstream components of these flowering pathways differ among plant species, most endogenous and external cues are ultimately integrated to control a highly conserved protein, FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), to ensure that flowering is initiated at an appropriate time.