Alteration of PHYA expression change circadian rhythms and timing of bud set in Populus

Iwanka Kozarewa, Cristian Ibanez, Mikael Johansson, Erling Ogren, David Mozley, Eva Nylander, Makiko Chono, Thomas Moritz, Maria E. Eriksson

41 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In many temperate woody species, dormancy is induced by short photoperiods. Earlier studies have shown that the photoreceptor phytochrome A (phyA) promotes growth. Specifically, Populus plants that over-express the oat PHYA gene (oatPHYAox) show daylength-independent growth and do not become dormant. However, we show that oatPHYAox plants could be induced to set bud and become cold hardy by exposure to a shorter, non-24 h diurnal cycle that significantly alters the relative position between endogenous rhythms and perceived light/dark cycles. Furthermore, we describe studies in which the expression of endogenous Populus tremula × P. tremuloides PHYTOCHROME A (PttPHYA) was reduced in Populus trees by antisense inhibition. The antisense plants showed altered photoperiodic requirements, resulting in earlier growth cessation and bud formation in response to daylength shortening, an effect that was explained by an altered innate period that leads to phase changes of clock-associated genes such as PttCO2. Moreover, gene expression studies following far-red light pulses show a phyA-mediated repression of PttLHY1 and an induction of PttFKF1 and PttFT. We conclude that the level of PttPHYA expression strongly influences seasonally regulated growth in Populus and is central to co-ordination between internal clock-regulated rhythms and external light/dark cycles through its dual effect on the pace of clock rhythms and in light signaling.

Original languageEnglish
JournalPlant Molecular Biology
Volume73
Issue number1-2
Pages (from-to)143-156
Number of pages14
ISSN0167-4412
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2010
Externally publishedYes

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