背景回顾：The reproductive transition is an important event that is crucial for plant survival and reproduction. 

提出问题：Relative to the thorough understanding of the vegetative phase transition in angiosperms, a little is known about this process in perennial conifers. 

主要研究：To gain insight into the molecular basis of the regulatory mechanism in conifers, we used temporal dynamic transcriptome analysis with samples from seven different ages of Pinus tabuliformis to identify a gene module substantially associated with aging. 

结果1-油松的发育转变：The results first demonstrated that the phase change in P. tabuliformis occurred as an unexpectedly rapid transition rather than a slow, gradual progression. 

结果2-年龄模块：The age-related gene module contains 33 transcription factors and was enriched in genes that belong to the MADS (MCMl, AGAMOUS, DEFICIENS, SRF)-box family, including six SOC1-like genes and DAL1 and DAL10. 

结果3-MADS11与生殖：Expression analysis in P. tabuliformis and a late-cone-setting P. bungeana mutant showed a tight association between PtMADS11 and reproductive competence. 

结果4-MADS11-DAL1：We then confirmed that MADS11 and DAL1 coordinate the aging pathway through physical interaction. 

结果5-MADS11与DAL1的功能差异：Overexpression of PtMADS11 and PtDAL1 partially rescued the flowering of 35S::miR156A and spl1,2,3,4,5,6 mutants in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), but only PtMADS11 could rescue the flowering of the ft-10 mutant, suggesting PtMADS11 and PtDAL1 play different roles in flowering regulatory networks in Arabidopsis. 

结果6-油松MADS11与拟南芥SOC1的功能分化：The PtMADS11 could not alter the flowering phenotype of soc1-1-2, indicating it may function differently from AtSOC1 in Arabidopsis. 

结论：In this study, we identified the MADS11 gene in pine as a regulatory mediator of the juvenile-to-adult transition with functions differentiated from the angiosperm SOC1.

 摘 要 

生殖转变是植物存活和生殖的重要事件。相比于被子植物中对于营养阶段转变的理解，我们对于该过程在多年生针叶树种中的了解少之又少。为了深入解析针叶树种中生殖转变相关的分子调控机制，作者以油松（Pinus tabuliformis）7个不同时期的样本为材料，通过时间动态转录组分析鉴定了一个与年龄极大相关的基因模块。研究结果首先表明，油松发育阶段的转变非常之快，并非一个缓慢、渐进的过程。年龄相关的基因模块包括了33个转录因子，并且显著富集于MADS-box基因家族，包括了6个类SOC1基因、DAL1以及DAL10。油松中的表达分析和白皮松一个晚座果突变体显示，PtMADS11基因与生殖能力之间存在强关联。作者进一步的实验证实了MADS11和DAL1通过物理互作，协调年龄途径。过表达PtMADS11和PtDAL1基因能够部分恢复拟南芥35S::miR156A和spl1,2,3,4,5,6突变体的开花表型，但是只有PtMADS11能够恢复ft-10突变体的开花，说明PtMADS11和PtDAL1在拟南芥的开花调控网络中发挥不同的作用。PtMADS11并不能改变soc1-1-2突变体的开花表型，说明其可能与拟南芥的AtSOC1基因具有不同的功能。本文中，作者发现松树中MADS11基因作为幼年向成年转变的调控因子发挥功能，并且与被子植物SOC1基因存在功能分化。