The MADS-domain transcription factor DAL10 is a direct target of putative DAL1-mediated age pathway in conifers.

This article focuses on the molecular mechanisms regulating the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth in the conifer Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis). It demonstrates that the MADS-domain transcription factor PtDAL1 acts as an age-related regulator by directly binding to and activating the promoter of another MADS-box gene, PtDAL10, whose expression increases with age and is highly enriched in male and female cones. PtDAL10, PtDAL1, and PtMADS11 form a ternary protein complex in the nucleus, and ectopic expression of PtDAL10 in Arabidopsis rescues late-flowering mutants, indicating its role as an activator of reproductive development distinct from PtDAL1 and PtMADS11. The study proposes a model in which the PtDAL1–PtDAL10–PtMADS11 module integrates age signals to mediate reproductive competence in conifers, providing insights into gymnosperm-specific regulatory networks underlying phase transition.