We have isolated the FPF1 (Flowering Promoting Factor 1) gene from Arabidopsis and shown that its expression is rapidly activated in the shoot apical meristem following floral induction. Overexpression of FPF1 changes flowering time both in Arabidopsis, and in tobacco, which we are using as a model system to study the function of FPF1 in species and cultivars where a tight photoperiodic control of flowering exists. Many lines of evidence from Arabidopsis suggest FPF1 plays a role in GA signalling pathways. In addition, we have shown that FPF1 can modulate the competence of the apical meristem to respond to LFY and AP1. Several approaches are currently being taken to further elucidate the function of FPF1 in relation to GA responses, to find other genes whose function is affected by FPF1 and to characterise Arabidopsis mutants for the FPF1 gene family.