Auxin and CmAP1 regulate the reproductive development of axillary buds in Chinese chestnut ( Castanea mollissima )

Key message Auxin accumulation upregulates the expression of APETALA1 (CmAP1) and subsequently activates inflorescence primordium development in axillary buds of chestnut. Abstract The architecture of fruiting branches is a key determinant of chestnut yield. Normally, axillary buds at the top of mother fruiting branches develop into flowering shoots and bear fruits, and the lower axillary buds develop into vegetative shoots. Decapitation of the upper axillary buds induces the lower buds to develop into flowering shoots. How decapitation modulates the tradeoff between vegetative and reproductive development is unclear. We detected inflorescence primordia within both upper and lower axillary buds on mother fruiting branches. The level of the phytohormones 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA) and trans -zeatin (tZ) increased in the lower axillary buds in response to decapitation. Exogenous application of the synthetic analogues 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) or 6-benzyladenine (6-BA) blocked or promoted, respectively, the development of the inflorescence primordia in axillary buds. The transcript levels of the floral identity gene CmAP1 increased in axillary buds following decapitation. An auxin response element TGA-box is present in the CmAP1 promoter and influenced the CmAP1 promoter-driven expression of β-glucuronidase ( GUS ) in floral organs in Arabidopsis, suggesting that CmAP1 is induced by auxin. We propose that decapitation releases axillary bud outgrowth from inhibition caused by apical dominance. During this process, decapitation-induced accumulation of auxin induces CmAP1 expression, subsequently promoting the reproductive development of axillary buds.