FRUIT INHIBITS FLOWERING IN ALTERNATE BEARING CITRUS VARIETIES. HORMONAL, GENETIC AND EPIGENETIC REGULATION

In mature citrus trees, flowering is regulated by exogenous signals (i.e., low/high temperature, water shortage/water supply) that control flowering time, and by endogenous signals that control flower intensity. Actually, the ratio of endogenous promoters to inhibitors is considered as responsible for flowering; however, there is evidence suggesting that the inhibitors and their metabolism are the sole factors controlling flowering in Citrus. All the meristems have the information and ability to flower unless a negative factor hampers the process. The main endogenous factor controlling flower intensity is the fruit. Attending to the aforementioned, in this PhD. thesis, the following hypothe…