Nature’s Master of Ceremony: The Populus Circadian Clock as Orchestrator of Tree Growth and Phenology
Understanding the timely regulation of plant growth and phenology is crucial for assessing a terrestrial ecosystem's productivity and carbon budget. The circadian clock, a system of genetic oscillators, acts as 'Master of Ceremony' during plant physiological processes. The mechanism is particularly elusive in trees despite its relevance. The primary and secondary tree growth, leaf senescence, bud set, and bud burst timing were investigated in 68 constructs transformed into <i>Populus</i> hybrids and compared with untransformed or transformed controls grown in natural or controlled conditions. The results were analyzed using generalized additive models with ordered-factor-smooth interaction smoothers. This meta-analysis shows that several genetic components are associated with the clock. Especially core clock-regulated genes affected tree growth and phenology in both controlled and field conditions. Our results highlight the importance of field trials and the potential of using the clock to generate trees with improved characteristics for sustainable silviculture (e.g., reprogrammed to new photoperiodic regimes and increased growth).
Authors
- Stefan Jansson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7906-6891)
- Steven Penfield (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6340-1731)
- Pär K. Ingvarsson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9225-7521)
- Kathryn M. Robinson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5249-604X)
- Maria E. Eriksson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2038-4892)
- Bertold Mariën (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1136-2480)
- Iwanka Kozarewa
- Ingrid H. Michelson
- Cristian Ibáñez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7767-6488)
- Ove Nilsson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1033-1909)
- Pierre A. Pin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8933-1452)
- Thomas Möritz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4258-3190)
- Manuela E. Jurca
- Naoki Takata (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8479-8165)
- Jun Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2702-055X)
Institutions
- John Innes Centre (GB)
- Novo Nordisk Foundation (DK)
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE)
- Umeå Plant Science Centre (SE)
- University of La Serena (CL)
- Umeå University (SE)
- Ashland (United States) (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Biological Timing and Sleep
- Published
- 2025-04-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s44323-025-00034-4
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.75
Funders
- Kempe Foundation
- VINNOVA
- Carl Tryggers Stiftelse för Vetenskaplig Forskning
- Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse
- Vetenskapsrådet
- Kempestiftelserna
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council