Scientists from the University of California, Davis have discovered a gene
function that allows wheat to discern the length of each day and night. They
found that when the gene is knocked out, wheat flowering was delayed for
more than 100 days.

The researchers found that the gene Phytochrome C changes form when it
detects the red hues of daylight and activates a separate gene, known as
Photoperiod 1. This gene is also regulated by the circadian clock that
oscillates with every 24-hour period. While breeders can already modify
flowering time in wheat, this discovery provides a new way of doing that.
The researchers are now looking for variations in Phytochrome C that can be
used to alter the flowering time in wheat.

[news.ucdavis.edu]