[Signal pathways of flowering time regulation in plant].

The transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is the major developmental switch in plant life cycle. The timing of flower initiation is critical for a successful reproduction. Flowering is regulated by endogenous and environmental signals. Molecular genetic studies on Arabidopsis thaliana revealed four major flowering pathways: the photoperiod, the vernalization, the autonomous, and the gibberellin pathways. This paper reviews some research progresses in control of flowering time in Arabidopsis.