Abstract
CO(2) levels are known to have an impact on plant development and physiology. In the current study, we have investigated the effect of elevated CO(2) on flowering and its regulation through miRNA mediated sugar signaling. We also unraveled small RNA transcriptome of pigeonpea under ambient and elevated CO(2) conditions and predicted the targets for crucial miRNAs through computational methods. The results have shown that the delayed flowering in pigeonpea under elevated CO(2) was due to an imbalance in C:N stoichiometry and differential expression pattern of aging pathway genes, including SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE. Furthermore, qRT PCR analysis has revealed the role of miR156 and miR172 in mediating trehalose-6-phosphate dependent flowering regulation. The current study is crucial in understanding the responses of flowering patterns in a legume crop to elevated CO(2) which showed a significant impact on its final yields. Also, these findings are crucial in devising effective crop improvement strategies for developing climate resilient crops, including pigeonpea. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-024-01434-9.