*4.3. Vector Construction and Plant Transformation*

The subcellular localization was performed by transfecting GFP-tagged PheDof12-1 into Arabidopsis sheath protoplasts [53] (Supplementary Table S1). The full-length cDNA of *PheDof12-1* was fused in frame with the GFP cDNA and ligated between the CaMV 35 S promoter and the nopaline synthase terminator. The fluorescence signals were examined using a confocal laser scanning microscope (Leica Microsystems, Wiesler, Germany).

The full-length coding sequence of *PheDof12-1* was cloned into the pCAMBIA 2300 vector under the control of the modified CaMV 35S promoter (Supplementary Table S1). The pCAMBIA 2300-*PheDof12-1* vector was introduced into *Agrobacterium umefaciens* strain GV3101 for Arabidopsis transformation in the Col-0 background by the floral dipping method [54]. Putative transgenic plants were screened on 50% Murashige and Skoog (MS) solid medium supplemented with 50 mg/L kanamycin, and homozygous T3 or T4 seeds were used.

In order to analyze the spatial expression patterns of PheDof12-1, a 2 kb region upstream of the PheDof12-1 transcription start site was cloned and fused to the pCAMBIA2391Z vector to generate the *ProPheDof12-1*-*GUS* reporter, which was transformed into wild-type (WT) plants (Supplementary Table S1). For GUS staining, *ProPheDof12-1*-*GUS* transgenic plants were used as previously reported [55].
