The circadian clock participates in seasonal growth in Norway spruce (Picea abies)

Abstract

The boreal forest ecosystems of the northern hemisphere are dominated by conifers, of which Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] H. Karst.) is one of the most common species. Due to its economic interest to the agroforestry industry, as well as its ecological significance, it is important to understand seasonal growth and biomass production in Norway spruce. Solid evidence that the circadian clock regulates growth in conifers has proved elusive, however, resulting in significant gaps in our knowledge of clock function in these trees. Here, we reassess the impact of the circadian clock on growth in Norway spruce. Using a combination of approaches monitoring the physiology of vegetative growth, transcriptomics and bioinformatics, we determined that the clock could be playing a decisive role in enabling growth, acting in specific developmental processes influenced by season and geographical location to guide bud burst and growth. Thus, the evidence indicates that there is time for spruce.

Keywords

bud burst; delayed fluorescence; gene regulatory network; rhythmicity

Published in

Tree Physiology
2024, volume: 44, number: 11, article number: tpae139
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS

SLU Authors

• Delhomme, Nicolas

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpae139

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/139495