Investigating the Impact of Copy Number Variations of Vernalization1 Gene in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Under different temperatures

Abstract

Winter wheat requires prolonged exposure to low temperatures, a process known as Vernalization, to accelerate the flowering time. Variation of Vernalization1 (VRN1) allelic plays a crucial role in regulating the vernalization requirements, thus contributing to adopting different environmental conditions. Here, this research investigated the influence of copy number variations (CNVs) of the VRN-A1 gene in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The study involved examining CNVs of the VRN-A1 gene in ten wheat cultivars through cloning. Additionally, phenotyping of transgenic line (T0) wheat with varying VRN-A1 CNVs was conducted to determine their impact on flowering time and other traits. Furthermore, F1 progeny from T0 wheat were grown at different temperatures (10°C and 20°C with 22 hours of light) to explore how these conditions affect VRN-A1 gene expression in wheat. The findings suggest that CNVs of VRN-A1 significantly influence wheat flowering time, developmental processes and gene expression levels. Understanding the role of VRN-A1 CNVs and their interaction with temperature provides valuable insights for enhancing wheat yield and resilience in the face of climate change.