The SINGLE FLOWER ( SFL ) gene encodes a MYB transcription factor that regulates the number of flowers produced by the inflorescence of chickpea

What is it about?

In legumes flowers (and therefore pods) are formed in secondary inflorescences (I2) that appear at lateral positions of the primary inflorescence. The number of flowers in the I2 is characteristic of each legume species. The number of flowers per I2 determines diversity in inflorescence shape between legumes and is agronomically important for its potential impact on yield. The genes controlling the number of flowers per I2 are virtually unknown. We have isolated the SFL gene, which controls the number of flowers in the chickpea I2, so that sfl mutants produce two flowers while the wild type produces one. SFL codes a regulatory protein acting in the I2 meristem to control the length of time that it remains active and, therefore, the number of flowers that it can produce.

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