Research progress on the molecular mechanism of flowering time in forage grasses

Flowering time is an important agronomic trait, and has an important influence on the yield, quality, and utilization of forage grasses. Flowering time is controlled by micro-effect polygenes and the regulatory network is complex. Research on flowering genes and the molecular mechanisms of flowering regulation will facilitate the exploration and utilization of flowering genes, and lead to the development of new forage varieties with different maturities to meet different production requirements. Although flowering genes have been extensively and systematically studied in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and other crops, there has been comparatively little study of these genes in forage grasses. In this paper, we review the latest advances in the study of flowering genes in order to provide a theoretical reference for the study of these genes in forage grasses.