Research sheds light on the 'spring switch' of plants

The researchers identified a genetic "switch" that triggered flowering processes in plants when PIF4 gene was discovered, triggering flowering when it responds to temperature. The team added that the finding could be used in the future to improve crop resilience in changing climatic conditions. Details of the study were published in the journal Nature.

>>>Genes that control plant growth

"For hundreds of years, we know that when the weather is warm, the trees will bloom. The question is how can trees control this process with such precision and sensitivity." . Dr. Philip Wigge, John Innes Center, Norwich, England, said that there are two mechanisms that allow plants to respond to the emergence of spring: the change in lighting time and temperature, the PIF4 ene is noted by because it only works when it is hot. Conversely, when the plant is in cool condition, the gene is not working. When the temperature rises, it activates other target genes and strongly activates the flowering process.

In this study, researchers used Arabidopsis thaliana , a small flowering plant native to Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. This is the first plant to have sequenced genomes, a "great tool" for molecular biologists.

Dr. Wigge explained that in plants there is a combination of two mechanisms that trigger flowering but to varying degrees, this affects the flowering properties of plants."Some plants flower at a fixed time each spring, while other plants will flower earlier if the weather heats up. These are plants that have the PIF4 gene active. Large and complex flowering processes, which have a direct effect on yield, we think that flowering in Arabidopsis can be similar in wheat and barley . If the average global temperature increases by 1.8 degrees F (equivalent to 1 degree C), crop yields will decrease by about 10%. Currently plants have been grown near the upper threshold of the optimal temperature. Identifying this gene's mechanism of action provides us with a very powerful tool for genetically altering plants to make them more resilient to climate change, he said.

This finding could help to study crop responses, allowing scientists to devise strategies to ensure food crop yields through breeding programs to cope with the effects. Disadvantage of climate change.