Wenfang Wang

Author    Correspondence author
Plant Gene and Trait, 2025, Vol. 16, No.   
Received: 01 Jan., 1970    Accepted: 01 Jan., 1970    Published: 21 Oct., 2025

Rosa chinensis serves as a model for studying floral transition in perennial woody ornamentals. This study explores how light and temperature regulate flowering patterns, floral quality, and genotype × environment interactions under controlled and field conditions. Molecular analysis shows that the RcCO-RcFT module and RcPIF-FLC-like axis integrate environmental cues, with RcPHYA, RcCRY2, RcPIF4, and RcHsfA6 acting through downstream regulators such as RcSOC1. Transcriptomic and epigenetic data confirm convergence of these networks, enabling synchronized flowering, while high temperature and short-day conditions disrupt activators. Phenotypic trials demonstrate that temperature and light shape floral morphology, longevity, and symmetry. A case study at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew illustrates how precise environmental management ensures display value and conservation. The findings support breeding climate-resilient rose cultivars using marker-assisted selection, transcriptome-based screening, and CRISPR/Cas9 editing, providing practical strategies for sustainable cultivation, ornamental display, and adaptation to climate change.