Proteins related to FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) strongly induce flowering of many plant species. In Arabidopsis thaliana FT is a component of the photoperiodic pathway and its transcription is activated under long days characteristic of summer. Recent studies showed that FT protein is expressed in the leaf vascular tissue and then moves through the phloem to the shoot apex, where it causes changes in gene expression that reprogram the shoot apical meristem to form flowers instead of leaves. Although transgenic experiments suggest FT protein is sufficient to induce flowering, it may nevertheless act together with other mobile components and genes induced by FT in the leaf might facilitate FT movement or function. In addition, molecular analysis of the pathways that regulate flowering-time in response to environmental signals suggests that many components of these pathways remain to be identified. This project proposes the use of molecular genetics and genomics approaches to reach three major objectives: (1) to identify genes involved in FT function or transport (2) to study the effect of the identified genes on flowering time and position them within the flowering pathway network (3) to study the effect of identified genes on FT transport by confocal microscopy. Preliminary results support the feasibility of the proposal, such as the identification of interesting genes whose expression is affected by FT in leaves and isolation of early-flowering mutants in genetic backgrounds null for FT activity. Training will take place at the MPI for Plant Breeding, Cologne and will complement the researcher`s existing skills in molecular biology by adding expertise in bioinformatic approaches, next generation sequencing and confocal microscopy. The technical expertise gained, the materials generated in the project and the expertise in project management obtained will assist the applicant in reaching his goal of starting an independent research group in his home country.