Bioscience Methods 2025, Vol.16, No.5, 228-237 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/bm 231 expression of the flower-suppressing gene EjTFL1 is increased, thereby preventing flower bud formation. After flower bud induction, if the temperature rises above 25 °C, EjTFL1 expression will decrease and flowering will be promoted; but if the ambient temperature is low, the plant will continue to grow vegetatively instead of flowering (Reig et al., 2023). These studies show that as long as the temperature and light are well controlled, the flowering time can be arranged according to needs, such as making the flowering period uniform or appropriately delayed. 4 Influence on Fruit Ripening Period and Market Timing 4.1 Shifting harvest windows to avoid market saturation By adjusting the flowering period of loquat, the ripening time of the fruit can be effectively adjusted, so that growers can avoid the period when there are too many fruits on the market. Methods such as cutting off the main inflorescence can make the tree bloom again, and the fruit will mature 2 to 4 months later than usual. In this way, the harvest period is extended and the fruit can be put on the market when the competition is not too fierce. In addition, by controlling the temperature of the soil, the fruit can be made to mature 8 to 10 days earlier, so that the time to market is more flexible. With these methods, growers can reasonably arrange the time of harvesting and selling according to market conditions and consumer needs. 4.2 Improvement in fruit quality traits (sugar content, texture, appearance) Flower thinning can significantly improve the quality of loquat fruit. If only four flower buds are retained per bunch of flowers, the fruits that grow out are usually larger, have higher sugar content, and look better. However, if too many flower buds are retained, although the yield increases, the quality of each fruit may deteriorate. In terms of genetics, for example, regulating the EjBZR1 gene can also help cells swell and make the fruit larger, which is also a new way to improve quality (Su et al., 2021). In addition, during the ripening process of the fruit, affected by genetics and planting management, changes in organic acids and some enzymes will affect the taste and texture. These changes also help to form a more ideal flavor (Deng et al., 2023). 4.3 Extension of supply period and enhancement of economic returns If the flowering and fruiting time of loquats is extended by adjusting the planting method or changing the environmental conditions, the supply time of fresh fruits will also be extended. This can avoid too many loquats appearing in the market at the same time and reduce the price drop caused by oversupply (Reig et al., 2016a). Once the supply period is extended, loquats can stagger the sales peak and sell at a good price in the off-season, which can also increase the income of growers. In addition, if the fruit is of higher quality and larger in size, it will be more easily accepted by consumers and the price can be sold at a better price. In this way, farmers will become more competitive in the market and their income level will become higher (Nordi et al., 2025). 5 Molecular and Genetic Approaches in Flowering Regulation 5.1 Identification of key flowering genes and their regulatory networks In recent years, scientists have found a number of important genes that affect loquat flowering and the regulatory relationship between them. The most core ones are two genes called EjFT1 and EjFT2, which belong to the "flowering locus T" family. EjFT2 is mainly involved in the formation of flower buds and is also affected by light duration and gibberellins; while EjFT1 is mainly related to vegetative growth and bud germination (Reig et al., 2017). Another gene called EjTFL1 (there are two versions: EjTFL1-1 and EjTFL1-2) prevents flowering and makes the plant more inclined to vegetative growth. This situation is more obvious under short-day conditions and when sprayed with GA3 (Reig et al., 2023). In addition to the above, many other genes are involved in regulating flowering, such as MADS-box genes (EjSOC1s, EjAP1s, EjLFYs), SPL family genes (EjSPL3, EjSPL4, EjSPL5, EjSPL9), and WOX family genes such as EjWUSa, which can promote early flowering of plants (Li et al., 2023; Yu et al., 2022). In addition, the two genes EjRAV1/2 and EjFRI inhibit the expression of flowering-related genes (such as FT and SOC1), thereby delaying flowering. These genes influence each other and integrate external environmental signals with signals in the plant body to finely regulate when to flower. 5.2 Advances in gene editing for targeted flowering time control Although there are not many studies on the use of CRISPR or other gene editing tools on loquat, there are studies that have used overexpression and other plant systems (such as Arabidopsis and strawberry) to test the functions
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