Plants can be larks or night owls just like us

Plants in body clocks have the same difference as those found in humans, according to a new study that examines the genes that regulate circadian rhythms in plants.

The research shows that changing one letter in their DNA code could determine whether a lark or a night owl is a plant. The decisions of farmers and crop breeders may help to select plants with clocks most suitable for their place, helping to stimulate yield and even their ability to withstand climate change.

The circadian clock is the molecular metronome that guides organisms during the day and night – cockadoodledooing arrives in the morning and pulls the curtains closed at night. In plants, it regulates a wide range of processes, from priming photosynthesis at daybreak to flowering time.

These rhythmic patterns can vary depending on geography, latitude, climate and seasons – with plant clocks changing to better respond to local conditions.

Researchers at the Earlham Institute and the John Innes Center in Norwich wanted to better understand the extent of circadian differentiation naturally, with the ultimate goal of breeding more sustainable crops. to local changes in the environment – an urgent threat posed by climate change.

To investigate the genetic basis of these local differences, the team studied different circadian rhythms in Swedish Arabidopsis plants to identify and validate genes associated with the variable clock clock.

Dr Hannah Rees, a postgraduate researcher at the Earlham Institute and author of the paper, said: “The overall health of a plant has a huge impact on how closely its circadian clock is synchronized to the length of each day as seasons go by. A round body, a clock, can affect competitors, predators, and pathogens.

“We were interested to see the impact of plant circadian clocks in Sweden; a country where there are major changes in daylight hours and climate. By understanding the genetics behind change and Changing the body clock could help us breed more climate-sustainable crops in other regions. “

The team studied the genes in 191 different strains of Arabidopsis obtained from all over Sweden. They looked for small differences in genes between these plants that could explain the differences in circadian function.

Their analysis showed that one DNA pair mutation in a particular gene – COR28 – was more likely to be found in plants that flowed late and had a longer duration. COR28 is a well-known coordinator of flowering time, frozen tolerance and the circadian clock; all of which can influence local change in Sweden.

“Surprisingly, just one pair of coin mutations within a single gene sequence can affect how fast the clock ticks,” Dr. Rees explained.

The scientists also used advanced delay fluorescence thinking to screen plants with circadian clocks with a different melody. They showed a difference of more than 10 hours between the clocks of the earliest risers and the gradual plants – similar to the plants that worked against movement patterns. Both the geography and the genetic ancestry of the plant seemed to be influenced.

“Arabidopsis thaliana is a plant model system,” Dr. Rees said. “It was the first plant to follow its genome and has been extensively studied in circadian biology, but this is the first time that this type of association study has been performed to determine the genes. detection that depends on different clock types.

“Our findings highlight some interesting genes that may be targeting crop breeders, and which are a platform for future research. The fluorescence imaging system can be delayed. Our use of any green photosynthetic material, making it relevant to a wide range of plants.The next step is to apply these findings to major agricultural crops, including brassicas and wheat . ”

The results of the study were published in the journal Plants, cell and environment.

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Notes to Editors Please contact Greg Jones at Earlham Institute with any media queries: Tel +44 (0) 7792 154497 or [email protected]

Rees, H. et al, Naturally occurring circadian rhythm change associated with clock gene loci in Swedish Arabidopsis entries. Plants, cell and environment, 2020. DOI: 10.1111 / pce.13941

The Earlham Institute (EI) is a world-leading research institute focusing on the development of computational genomics and biology. EI is based within Norwich Research Park and is one of eight institutions to receive strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) – £ 5.43m in 2017/18 – plus on support from other research funders. EI is working National Ability to promote the use of genomics and bioinformatics to advance biological research and innovation.

EI offers a state-of-the-art DNA sequencing facility, unique in the way it uses a number of complementary technologies for data generation. The Institute is a UK hub for innovative bioinformatics through the research, analysis and interpretation of many complex datasets. It hosts one of the largest computer hardware facilities dedicated to the study of life sciences in Europe. He is also actively involved in the development of novel platforms to provide access to computing devices and processing capabilities for a number of academic and business users and the advancement of computational biology applications. In addition, the Institute offers a training program through courses and workshops, as well as an outreach program aimed at key stakeholders and the general public audience through communication and communication activity. science.

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