Fig. 5. Overexpression of miR159a delays the floral transition in short days (SDs). (A) wild-type (WT) and 35S:miR159a homozygotes grown for 4 weeks in SDs. The arrow indicates a new rosette leaf. (B) WT and 35S:miR159a homozygotes grown for 6 weeks in short days. (C) Means of the number of total leaves produced before flowering (nb), and of the number of days to flower in SD conditions (±s.e.; n>10), are shown. Wild type, light grey bars; 35S:miR159a homozygotes, dark grey bars. (D) RNA gel-blot analysis of miR159 levels in 4-week-old wild-type and 35S:miR159a leaves. Lines 2 and 4 are clonally independent (T₁) transgenic lines that segregate 35S:miR159a. WTF, segregants lacking the transgene, flowered at the same time as wild type (non-transgenic control); LF, late flowering segregants carrying 35S:miR159a. (E) RNA gel-blot analysis of MYB33, LEAFY and SOC1 mRNA performed on the same plant material as in D. ELF4a transcript was used as a RNA sample control.