A developmental switch sufficient for flower initiation in diverse plants

We have generated transgenic plants in which the flower-meristem-identity gene LEAFY of Arabidopsis is constitutively expressed. LEAFY is sufficient to determine floral fate in lateral shoot meristems of both Arabidopsis and the heterologous species aspen, with the consequence that flower development is induced precociously. Our results also suggest a new level of regulation during flower development, as indicated by the competence of the main shoot to respond to LEAFY activity.