Flowering time is significantly influenced by temperature, acting as a crucial environmental cue. While genetics plays a role in determining a plant's inherent flowering time, temperature fluctuations can modulate this timing, often accelerating or delaying flowering based on specific temperature signals.
These temperature-dependent changes in flowering are mediated by complex molecular pathways. For example, the protein FT (FLOWERING LOCUS T) is a key regulator of flowering, and its expression is influenced by temperature. Temperature changes can affect the production and stability of FT, ultimately impacting when a plant flowers. Seasonal temperature changes, like winter cold, can trigger the vernalization response, allowing plants to flower rapidly in the spring. While genetics provides the underlying framework for flowering time, temperature acts as a powerful modulator, influencing when and how quickly plants flower.